Chapter 21 Gold and Fire
The Mountain of Flame groaned around them. Rivers of molten lava flowed through immense cracks in black volcanic stone. Heat shimmered across the air while clouds of ash drifted high above the mountain peaks. Toivo had never seen anything like it. Even from within the dragon's domain, the mountain felt alive. Ancient. Dangerous. The kind of place where gods and monsters might once have walked openly. The enormous dragon led them deeper into the volcano. His footsteps shook the stone. Golden eyes glowed through drifting smoke. At times he walked in his gigantic draconic form. At others he reduced his size until he was merely the size of a large horse. Even then, the power radiating from him remained overwhelming.
Gret eyed him carefully.
"You really knew him as a hatchling?"
The dragon snorted. A plume of smoke escaped his nostrils.
"I knew him before your kingdom existed."
Toivo nearly tripped.
The dragon sounded offended.
"As if I would lie about such things."
Moon sat quietly atop one of the dragon's massive claws while several moon fairies drifted lazily around him. At night he had regained his older form. Long black hair flowed almost to the ground. Silver robes shimmered softly in the volcanic light.
The contrast was strange. Moon looked cool and peaceful. The mountain burned around him.
The dragon glanced toward Moon.
"I was smaller than one of those fairies when we met."
Moon nodded.
"You bit me."
The dragon immediately looked embarrassed. Toivo blinked.
"You bit him?"
"It was one bite."
"You bit a god."
"I was young."
Kev laughed so hard he nearly fell from Gret's shoulder.
The dragon glared at him. The cat showed no remorse whatsoever.
"You should have bitten harder," Kev said.
The dragon looked thoughtful.
Moon looked mildly offended.
Toivo laughed.
Even Gret smiled.
The journey continued until they reached the heart of the mountain. Everyone stopped. The cavern before them was enormous.
No. Enormous was not enough. It was a world beneath the earth. A vast chamber larger than entire cities. Columns of obsidian stretched toward invisible ceilings. Molten rivers illuminated the darkness with red and gold light.
And everywhere gold. Mountains of gold. Rivers of coins. Ancient treasures. Jewels. Crowns. Weapons. Armor.
Entire ships carved from precious metals. Toivo stared speechlessly. Gret looked equally stunned. Brotherhood, battle, and honor meant little when faced with enough treasure to buy kingdoms.
Kev's eyes widened.
"Mine."
"No," said Moon.
Kev sighed.
"It was worth trying."
The dragon proudly spread his wings.
"My hoard."
Toivo walked carefully among the treasures.
Some items looked older than recorded history. Broken crowns. Ancient swords. Jewelry from forgotten civilizations. A silver helmet rested upon a pile of gold. The metal had not tarnished despite countless centuries.
Moon approached it quietly. His expression changed. For a moment. Only a moment. Sadness.
The dragon noticed.
"So you remember that one too."
Moon nodded.
Toivo looked between them.
"What is it?"
Neither answered immediately.
The dragon finally spoke.
"A king."
Moon gently touched the helmet.
"He died during the First Age."
The dragon's voice softened.
"He fought beside us."
Us.
Toivo noticed the word.
Not beside Moon. Beside us. As though the dragon had once stood among legends. For a few moments nobody spoke. The mountain became quiet. Even the lava seemed distant. The dragon eventually broke the silence.
"He was brave."
Moon smiled faintly.
"He was."
Then he placed the helmet back where it belonged. Carefully. Respectfully. The dragon watched him.
Old memories reflected within his golden eyes.
"You haven't changed."
Kev snorted loudly.
"He absolutely has."
Moon looked toward him.
Kev grinned.
"You used to be worse."
The dragon immediately nodded.
"Far worse."
Toivo looked confused.
Moon looked annoyed.
Gret became interested.
This was clearly a story.
"Explain."
The dragon laughed. A deep booming sound.
"When he was young, he tried to save everything."
Moon sighed.
The dragon continued.
"Every animal."
"Every spirit."
"Every lost child."
"Every dying tree."
Moon covered his eyes.
The dragon ignored him.
"He once spent three weeks rescuing birds after a storm."
Toivo smiled.
That sounded exactly like Moon.
The dragon pointed a claw.
"He cried when one died."
Moon looked away.
Toivo's smile widened.
Gret crossed his arms.
"That also sounds exactly like him."
The dragon laughed again. Moon looked like he wanted the mountain to collapse on top of him. The fairies circling him sparkled mischievously. As though they enjoyed hearing these stories.
Toivo found himself watching Moon.
The older form. The long black hair. The silver eyes. The faint embarrassment.
For someone so powerful he looked strangely human. The thought warmed Toivo's chest. Dangerously. He quickly looked away. Unfortunately Gret noticed. The giant warrior hid a smile within his beard. Kev noticed too. Kev's smile was much worse. Much. Much worse.
Moon thankfully remained unaware. Or pretended to.
The dragon eventually settled atop his enormous treasure hoard. Gold shifted beneath his weight. The mountain itself seemed to exhale.
For the first time in many days they were safe. The Shadow Wolves could not enter. The Jester dared not challenge the dragon. The mysterious warrior had vanished. Only the mountain remained.
And old friends reunited beneath fire and stone. As the night deepened, Moon sat quietly beside the dragon while thousands of tiny fairies drifted through the cavern like stars.
The dragon lowered his head beside him. Ancient. Powerful. Gentle. For a long while neither spoke. They simply watched the glowing rivers of lava. Two beings who had survived ages no mortal could imagine.
Old friends from a forgotten world.
And far above the mountain beyond the clouds yhe stars continued their endless journey north. Waiting. Watching. As destiny slowly approached.
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