Fire and Ice: Prophecy

Malacai was slowing climbing the side of the dragon lord’s tower. It was a difficult climb, due to the spells that were being cast at him from below to slow his ascent. It wasn’t working. Until one of the spells hit a patch of wall above him, destroying it completely.

“Well, that sure messed up my plans.” He said. He grimaced in pain as a bolt of lightning struck his spinal cord, paralyzing him for a few moment. A few moments too long, his hands slipped off the side of the tower, he started to fall towards what would be his death, if it wasn’t for the black dragon that swooped in and caught him. That was the last thing he saw before blacking out.

A great black dragon flew towards the top of the tower, his prey in his jaws. He landed with and audible thump of the tower. He quickly opened his jaws and let his victim fall to the ground. The great dragon looked up and began to radiate a black aura around himself. He shapeshifted into a figure dressed in dark robes. He bent onto one knee and addressed the man in front of him.

“Master, I have captured the intruder. It seems that your brother, Solaris, sent him to kill you. What do you want me to do with him? Throw him into the dungeons? Send him to the torture chambers? Make him work in the mines until he dies from exhaustion?” The robed figure asked.

“No, I have plans for this one.” He said crouching down to stare at the unconscious figure. “Neceron, go fetch me the shackles. I think he deserves a fate worse than death.”

Neceron just nodded and flew off of the building. Shooting a great black flame into the air. He was really interested for the plans his master, N’lyr, had for the intruder. He hoped whatever he had planned, it would be slow and excruciating.  He turned into his human form once again, and made his way into the torture chamber.

“Kanin, master wants a pair of shackles for the intruder we have captured. He wants to have some ‘fun’ with him before his death.” Neceron said.

Kanin, an enslaved dwarf, nodded and handed over a pair of shackles. Neceron thanked him and flew back to the tower, he didn’t want to keep his master waiting.

Malacai opened his eyes, he tried moving his limbs, but they were refrained from any sort of movement. That could only mean one thing: he had been captured by Dragon Lord N’lyr. He attempted to observe his surroundings, but the room that he was in was pitch black.

“So, I see that you’re finally awake? I hope that you find your current ‘situation’ more than comfortable.” A voice said from the darkness in front of him. He had begun to recognize that voice too well.

“N’lyr! What is the meaning of this? All the other captives have never been treated this way! I should know, i’ve been given the task of keeping a close eye on you.” Malacai said. Struggling to get free from his bonds, just so he could go down fighting.

“Oh, I don’t think struggling would be a good idea, Malacai. With a snap of my fingers, I could kill you, but that wouldn’t be fun, now would it?” N’lyr said chuckling maniacally. He snapped his fingers and the room was abruptly lit up with torches. “Ah, that’s better.” He sighed contently, before turning to Malacai. “Now tell me? What do you know of my plans?” He asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Malacai shouted, hoping that it would give him courage, it didn’t. He was still struggling against his imprisonment.

“Now Malacai, I wouldn’t want to lie to a Dragon Lord, I could summon an entire undead army just to feast on your body. But, that would ruin my 'human’ skin rugs.” He grinned pointing towards a rug. Malacai was utterly shocked. Not because it was made from a human’s skin, but the fact that the skin wasn’t completely removed from the body, also the fact that the human was still alive. Desperately trying to get free and escape from this madman’s clutches. Malacai realized the danger he was in, he needed to escape, and fast. Luckily, Malacai was a pyromancer, he knew a few spells that would work in a situation like this. He remembered a certain one that would get him free from his bonds. He just needed to distract N’lyr.

Malacai was still racking his brain for options, when the door to the room was busted open by a figure in black robes. “Master! Lord Solaris has gotten news of the fate of his soldier. He’s sending a rescue team our way. What should we do?” The mysterious man asked.

“Neceron! Can’t you see that our ‘guest’ is awake?! I’ll deal with them later, just send a battalion of our soldiers to take care of this minor nuisance. Now leave!” He shouted before slamming the door closed. As he turned towards Malacai his eyes widened in shock. Malacai had made his move.

While Dragon Lord N’lyr was speaking to his ‘friend’ Malacai chanted a spell that melted his shackles, and he got ready to attack his captor. “Flagelli-excandescunt!” He shouted, whipping his arm around and striking his enemy with a whip of fire.

“How? You’re a magic-user?! I should have known! Only my brother would send a magi to deal with me, this just became a little more than a ‘minor nuisance’.” He said. “Tenaci Mors.” He chanted. All the shadows around the room began to slither towards Malacai. Malacai had never seen such dark magic before. He tried everything he knew: Wall of Fire, Whip-flare, Summon Hell Hound. That last spell, crippled his abilities as a magi.

“Ugh!” He screamed as the writhing mass of shadows engulfed him, sending him into a deep, deep slumber. N’lyr smiled to himself, his plan was coming along nicely. He had forseen Malacai’s plan, so, he had commanded Neceron to fake a distraction while Malacai escaped from his shackles. All he needed to do now, was get him to the cellar, where his greatest, most powerful spell-book was kept.

Translations:

Flagelli-excandescunt - Whip-flare

Tenaci Mors - Grip of Death