The Ballad of Farasi and Gwetha

THE PRELUDE 1

My name is Farasi, and I am a Sapphire Dragon. There are three classes of us, my cousins are of the Ruby and Emerald hue. My domain is the land of Chartyos, across the great Jet Sea, and it used to be a peaceful area. Until that is, the humans came to this place.2

I don't know how they found their way here, but recently four men have been spotted around these parts. They wear the armour of knights, and carry weapons of steel. It is our belief they mean to utterly destroy us, or at least take one of us alive as some kind of trophy. So far, they have not discovered myself or any of my brethren, because we live in caves which descend far underground, but we believe they are getting closer. They have set up camp not far from where I dwell, and make regular excursions into the surrounding countryside. They have cut down bushes, and dug up vast swathes of greenery in their search for us, and have generally disturbed the peace. So it has fallen to me and my mate Gwetha to destroy them or drive them from here, and then to ensure others of their kind do not follow.3

Firstly, we must confront them. I will land close to where they are camped, and attempt to frighten them away. If that does not work, Gwetha will set fire to their tent, to show we mean business (only the females of us possess the ability to flame, contrary to popular belief.) If they still do not take to their heels, then as a last resort we will try to kill at least some of them, maybe leaving one alive so he can report back to whoever sent them to say we are too dangerous to capture (we cannot communicate verbally with these humans, another myth.) I hope that we can succeed without the need for bloodshed, despite what human lore would have you believe, we are a generally calm and placid species. Now I must retire, and hope that whatever tomorrow brings, it will be good for dragon kind.4

THE AFTERMATH5

It is I, Farasi, once again. I have sorrow in my heart for my dear Gwetha is no more. She was stabbed through the heart by one of those savages, using a broadsword. We confronted them as planned, but rather than take fright at my sudden appearance they seemed to get excited by seeing me. We had the element of surprise as they were all still in their sleeping bags, and so were clad only in their undershirts and britches, but they were instantly armed and ready for battle. My sweet beloved then swooped out of the sky blazing fire at them, and she managed to engulf two men in flaming death at her first pass. As she turned to make another descent, one of them threw his weapon with deadly accuracy straight into her chest. It was over in an instant, she fell to the earth with a sickening crash and lay quite still. In a mighty rage I roared and charged at them, and managed to swallow one whole headfirst. The other, who alas was the murderer, took this opportunity to scramble through a gap in a hedgerow too small for me to follow, and made his escape. I'm sure he will return, with more of his kind. When he does, I'll be waiting. 6