A Night of Dragon Wings - By Daniel Arenson Page 0,23

hissed and dared not move.

"Why?" she whispered. "Why, Nemes, do you betray your filthy kind?"

A throaty chuckle rose from him, then died when the blades cut deeper.

"They are filthy, my queen, you are right. I cleaned their filth. I watched my grandfather sweep their floors, chop their wood, empty their chamber pots, wash their clothes… and all the while, they never invited him to a feast, or a hunt, or a ball. He died alone, thin and overworked. The same happened to my father. The same would have happened to me, had you not burned their cursed court to the ground." He hissed a laugh. "The weredragons speak of their justice, their pity, their wisdom, yet they are cruel. They are weak. In Tiranor I see strength! When you invaded Requiem, I saw a proud, noble people, a strong race, a beautiful race, a race where the powerful can rise, where pity and weakness are crushed. This I seek to serve, not Requiem's cruel lords. Allow me to serve you, my fair queen, my goddess of pride and strength, and I will deliver you the Weredragon King and what remains of his court."

She stepped back and sheathed her blades. Nemes gasped and clutched at his throat and cheek where lines of blood ran. Solina nodded at her guards, and they promptly kicked Nemes down again. He lay on the floor before her, a boot pressed against his neck, spears against his back.

"Empty words," she said and spat. "Do you think I will trust you? Your kin are reptiles; you are merely a worm. I should kill you now. Guards! Hang his head upon Queen's Archway. Let the city—"

"You seek the nephilim!" cried Nemes, cheek pressed against the floor.

Her men had drawn their swords and raised them. Solina held up her hand, stopping them from landing the blows. They stood frozen, sabres held above the worm.

Solina's heart raced. She sucked in her breath and snarled. He knew. Sun God, the worm knew of the key. He knew of the Iron Door and the creatures who lurked behind it. She knelt above him, grabbed a fistful of his hair, and raised his head. She glared into his eyes.

"What do you know of this?" she hissed.

Blood covered his cheek. He still managed to grin.

"One of Elethor's spies made it to our camp," he said. "A man you took to Tarath Gehena. He babbled. The weredragons knew not what he meant. But I do." He licked blood off his lips. "I know of the dark arts. I know of the Palace of Whispers where the nephilim languish. I know of the tower where the key to the palace is guarded." His lips pulled back, revealing crooked teeth. "I studied their art. I studied the books of Legion, their demon lord. If you free the nephilim, I can help you tame them; I speak their tongue and know their lore. With the nephilim's power, you can crush not only the weredragons, but the world itself. I ask only to stand by your side and serve you as you reign, and to serve Lord Legion. Will you accept? Will you let me serve your glory, let me watch you crush the world under your heel? I will have my revenge. You will have the greatest empire this world has known."

Solina stared down at him. What game was he playing? What weredragon trick was this? The dangers raced through her mind. He could be a spy sent by Elethor, hoping to win her favor. He could be planning to lead her into a weredragon trap. He could be an assassin, waiting to catch her alone. He could be insane. Solina knew enough of weredragons to never trust them; she would not trust this one.

Unless…

Unless there was some way he could prove his loyalty, prove his worth. Solina narrowed her eyes and nodded.

Yes, she thought. Yes, a weredragon would do nicely. If he dies, he dies. And if he lives… I will be too strong for an empire of reptiles to hurt me.

"Stand him up!" she shouted to her guards. "Chain him. Collar him. We leave for Tarath Gehena—right now." As Nemes struggled, and as her men clasped him in chains, Solina smiled. "The weredragon will prove his loyalty. The weredragon will retrieve the key."

At once Nemes began to object, sweat upon his brow. "My queen! I… I am not a warrior, merely a priest of Lord Legion. I can help you speak with the nephilim, but to