The Invasion Of The Sombers

“Do you know what kind of creature it is?” asked Syriel.

“Well, some people said that he was throwing heat. I've thought of a dragon, although it wouldn't fit in these galleries; maybe it's a baby or maybe some other kind of creature we don't know. In any case, I don't think it's very dangerous, because if it were, there wouldn't be any mole-man alive down there," replied the wise magician.

A few minutes later, a retinue formed by the princes, the White Magician, Baldrich, Bellamir, Garin, five human soldiers and five orcs entered the galleries.

“Who is going to lead us to the beast?” the prince asked.

“They have shown me where it is," replied the magician. “I think I will know how to take you there without losing us.”

The white-skinned sorcerer brought out of his hands some luminous spheres that floated over the heads of the group and provided enough light for all of them.

After advancing a good while through a labyrinthine structure of tunnels and passageways, the White Magician said to them:

“It must be around here, be alert…”

After taking a few more steps cautiously, the albino magician made a stop sign.

“I have detected its mind: it is in that bend, on the right, and it is frightened; it’s a dragon calf, but already of considerable size. Don't let your guard down. Stay here, if we all go, it would be more frightened," warned the magician in a whisper.

When he was going to continue in search of the young dragon, he heard as Lirieth demanded, hopefully and firmly:

“Master, please, let me try first. It's a good opportunity to learn and practice, perhaps the only one we can have.”

The snowy magician turned and looked at the princess, who looked back at him expectantly, then at Syriel, who nodded cautiously, and finally at Baldrich, who shrugged.

Then he stepped aside and went to the princess.

"Go ahead, with gentleness, but with confidence and with much caution,” the White Magician warned Lirieth, after a slow nod and a deep gratitude, advanced with maximum prudence until she disappeared behind the bend.

The princess continued down the narrow passageway with very smooth and slow movements, without wielding any weapons. Suddenly she heard a slight grunt a few yards further to the right, and suddenly she saw gleaming eyes, expressing more fear than curiosity, staring at her.

She stopped and muttered reassuring words as she approached with extreme caution. The young dragon recoiled nervously and roared menacingly. Lirieth did not give up and continued to move forward energetically, but with much softness and soothing messages from mind to calf. The dragon shook and, moving into the threat position, body stretched and wings open, it tried to blow a puff of fire, but only a jet of hot air came out almost harmless.

Lirieth replied with a calm smile and affectionate cuddle, noticing how the mind of the little one opened with certain doubts, which he took advantage of to infuse her dominion as the White Magician had been teaching her the last days, with sweetness, but without showing fear, and with security and confidence in herself. Suddenly, she noticed as if someone would have opened an invisible door between the dragon and her and felt her mind unite with his.

She sensed the anguish and fear that the young calf felt when it lost all contact with its mother. The princess approached and tenderly caressed the now calmer dragon and mentally told it not to fear anything, that they would help it find its mother. Once she noticed that the beast had calmed down and was beginning to trust her, Lirieth began to walk away, inviting it to follow her. After a few moments of doubt, it advanced towards the princess, with some reserve first, and then with greater confidence.

The White Magician, who detected everything that was happening, indicated to the others, being satisfied:

“She is doing very well, soon they will be here. Hide your weapons and try not to frighten the dragon, it has strayed from its mother.”

At that very moment they saw the princess appearing, encouraging the dragon to follow her, and in a few minutes, they were all surrounding the young, leading it to the exit.

The dragon was golden-colored and walked on all fours, which ended in strong, sharp claws. Its height was about six feet and almost ten feet long, about half of what it would reach in adulthood. Its mouth was large and elongated with a powerful jaw full of teeth. Its eyes were pure black on a bright yellow background and its head ended in elongated protuberances that could be described as horns, although they did not seem such because they were more like an extension of the skull itself. The skin all over the body was incredibly hard, the length of its open wings was close to fourteen feet and its body ended in an extensive and agile, but very hard tail.