Lair of the Unidragon, Page Thirty
You wait nervously as the warrior descends the ladder. As it gets close, you start being able to make out specific details. Slowly, the figure reveals itself to be a large, muscular Human male. He is wearing nothing but a fur loincloth, an embroidered headband, a necklace made of animal teeth of some kind, and a metal gauntlet on his right hand, which is also holding a huge, double-bladed axe. He has dark, red-brown skin and long, flowing black hair. His back is turned to you. As he reaches the ground, you call out, "Pardon me, sir, but I could not help but notice what a great fighter you are, and I was wondering..."
Your words die in your throat as he turns around . You'd recognise that rugged, high-cheekboned face anywhere! It's Kentor, your barbarian buddy from the grasslands!
Ah, yes. Kentor, who used to come along with the old gang, in the good old days. With you as the brains, Kentor as the brawn, Kyshandra as the magic and Krexx as the speed, just about the entire kingdom was terrified of you. You smile. "Kentor, what brings you here?"
He shrugs. "I was bored. When the guards at the gate just about killed me on sight, I figured this should be just the place for a little refreshing mayhem." He gestures at the broken bodies littering the floor. "Seems like I was right."
"Have you ever figured out WHAT all those guards are guarding?" you ask.
"Oh, it's just some religious cult," Kentor replies. "They don't even have any sacred treasures." You feel disappointed. You were hoping there was heap lots of money in here somewhere. But Kentor is the most trustworthy person you know (which still isn't saying much, knowing you and the type of company you keep), so if HE says there's no treasure, there's no treasure. Oh, well. You don't bother to ask Kentor how he's HERE, on the island, at all. As a roving barbarian warrior he shows up just about every place sooner or later.
"So," Kentor breaks into your thoughts. "What brings YOU here, besides money, I mean?"
"Well, I was told the Unidragon's lair might be somewhere in this area...you wouldn't happen to know where, would you?"
Kentor shakes his head. "I'm sorry, Questor. I don't know anything about that. But there are a lot of lively rumours about a magic sword called the 'Goldensword' flying about...I figure, the Unidragon is a magical creature, right? So a magical weapon should work better than a normal one..." He trails off and shrugs helplessly.
"I agree." you answer. "Where is this Goldensword?"
He pauses to think. "Well," he replies after a moment, most of the rumours concur that it's in a cave not far to the south of here. It's supposedly guarded by all sorts of magic and monsters and such--you know, the usual."
You nod, not bothering to ask why Kentor hasn't gone and fetched this wonderful sword for himself--he hates magic. It used to be a favourite topic of debate between you and Kyshandra and Krexx: trying to determine how anyone could develop such a superstitious dread of something so natural.
"Thanks, Kentor. Nice seeing you." You turn to leave, and a huge brown hand clamps down on your shoulder.
"Wait," says Kentor. "You might need this." He pulls his gauntlet off and hands it to you.
"Um, I don't think this'll fit me, Kentor," you say, looking at it and wondering at your old friend's sanity.
"Oh, it should," he says. "It's magical. It gives the wearer great strength."
You raise one slanted eyebrow. "Magical?"
Kentor looks sheepish . "Well, I ran into this crazy old lady who thought I was her son, and she insisted I take the gauntlet because it was his/"mine". I didn't want to hurt her feelings, so..." He trails off. "Anyway, now it's yours."
"Your sure you don't want it?" you ask, trying it on. Sure enough, the instant your hand goes inside, it shrinks down to fit your much smaller and more delicate bone-structure perfectly.
Kentor laughs. "Me?" He flexes an immense bicep. "I hardly need it!"
"Well, thanks again," you call over your shoulder, and retrace your steps out of the castle. This time, all the guards run AWAY when they see you coming. Word must have gotten around.
Once outside, you head south.
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