The Wrath of Alik’r
The old draconian pressed a vision tablet to allow a picture to unfold before him. He smiled for a moment before he began to tell the tale of the Wrath of Alik’r, the Droconian that changed their ways forever.
* * * * * * *
Alik’r slammed his hand down on the banquet table “What do you mean they didn’t accept!” his deep voice thundered with rage throughout the high-roofed halls. The humans did not accept the “War Aid Offer” from the Droconian Federation of War Aid. It was really just a con for the warmonger Droconians to get the humans to let their guard down and enable the Droconians to commence “Plan E,” also known as “Operation Hostile Takeover.”
The Droconians average height was about 9 feet 6 inches; they were covered in scales from head to toe; that couldn’t even be penetrated with the lasers we used to cut industrial grade diamonds. They had four fingers each with claws that injected a poison that’s so potent that one drop could potentially kill one thousand, full grown male African Elephants that were in musk. They had a tail that shot spikes that injected that same poison upon penetrating impact, which was almost always the case, and they also had dragon-like wings (hence the name Droconian). Their eyes could see thermal and normal with exceptional night vision, so they almost always found their target. Alik’r however, was above average and was more agile than most after years of practice. He was one of the most feared Droconian commanders their army had ever known.
Titan shivered at the thought of incurring the wrath of Alik’r upon himself, Titan thought for a moment before answering Alik’r. “I’ll make them accept, my liege.”
Alik’r responded sounding less angered this time “Good. Well, why are you still standing there? Go make them accept!”
Titan flew off hurriedly moments before a guard entered dragging a human spy. “Sir, I found this one outside the camp, what should I do with him?”
Alik’r thought for a moment before saying, “Feed him to the Night Crawlers, they seem to be getting anxious and hungry.” The guard left with the spy who was screaming for mercy, though he knew he would get none.
Later on that day, Titan returned saying “My liege it seems evident that the humans have had spies watching the other camps for weeks. The reason the humans won’t accept is because they know our true aim.” Titan gulped when he saw the look in Alik’r’s eyes that he’d seen only once before, the look of pure rage. If looks could kill, that whole continent would have been nuked.
Alik’r threw the banquet table at Titan who was barely able to dodge it and shouted “Insolent, spineless, idiot! Are you too incompetent to know what to do now? Go rally the troops, we strike at dawn!” Titan flew off even more hurried than the last time. He was told to rally the troops and Alik’r knew he would do just that. The servants brought in a new table and food to go with it, and left Alik’r to his ranting.
About an hour later, another guard brought in a servant boy that tried to start a mutiny. “Sir, I caught this one trying to start an uprising with the other High Elves. Should I feed ‘em to the Night Crawlers? They seem a little restless and we don’t need them going berserk and trying to eat the Pit Master again. We’ve gone through three Pit Masters in as many weeks.”
Alik’r smiled seeming pleased, “Now here’s somebody who knows what I like, and yes, feed him to the Crawlers, along with any who would’ve help him in the mutiny.”
The guard said, seeing the pleasure in Alik’r “Yes, my lord.” The guard bowed slightly and left with the struggling Elf.
Later that night, as he laid deep in slumber, Alik’r nearly choked a servant that woke him to death before he realized what he was doing and released her neck. It was something that happened often when he was preparing for battle. “What is it and whatever it is, it had better be important. Oh, and I’m sorry for choking you like that Lydia, you startled me.” Lydia, a servant that was currently acting as a courier, cleared her throat before reading the letter of inheritance.
“Lord Alik’r Dragonsoul of the Droconian Islands of Dovahkina we regret to inform you that your wife, Akila Dragonsoul, has been murdered by an unknown Droconian. The deceased party has bequeathed unto you the following things: 1,000 gold coins, a golden jeweled urn with her father’s ashes and now hers as well, her pet Night Crawler, Raven’s Run, and her beloved friend and servant, Avantus. Your wife’s funeral will be in eight days’ time at three in the afternoon. We of the King’s court are sorry for your loss and allow you leave to mourn the death of your loving wife and attend her funeral.”
“I am sorry for your loss my lord. I will let Legate Titan know that you will be taking leave to mourn your wife, and that until you return, he is in charge.” Lydia bowed and left the banquet room. Alik’r sat staring for a while, still trying to absorb the shock of the message as he would a poorly aimed blow from a mace. Finally, with a suddenly weak voice, said to the thin air “Yes, I, I suppose I should take leave.” He left only after finishing his meal and gathering his possessions.
The funeral ceremony was a grand parade through the streets of the Capital of the Isles, Black Wing. The Droconian style of mourning was much different than any other race though. It consisted of finding the murderer of the deceased. Murder was the only way a Droconian could die, requiring a lethal dose of the poison of another Droconian not mated to them or related. Once found, the avenger and the murderer dueled to the death in front of the entire capital city at the Mos Vorki, the Droconian version of the Roman Coliseum.
Not long after the funeral ended, Alik’r found his wife’s murderer. Enraged, he sounded the cry for the crowd to gather as he began attacking Jiorn, the Half Blood, dragging him into the Mos Vorki. The crowd cheered when Alik’r asked them “Who here likes the idea of me ripping this half-blood’s wings off!” Jiorn tried to scramble away from Alik’r, which was a little hard to do since Alik’r had broken several bones in his arms and legs. Jiorn begged for mercy, but Alik’r already decided not to rip his head off, but to destroy him and let him suffer the rest of his days. After Alik’r finished ripping Jiorn’s wings off, he raised a hand to the excited crowd to calm them “I will not kill this murderer.” He smiled maliciously as the crowd gasped in shock. “Instead, I will let him live his life without dignity, or the use of his limbs!” With that he pressed his claws into the joints of Jiorn’s arms, then legs, and destroyed them, pleasing the crowd as he walked off, the victor.
The Droconians were passionate about many things; war, random brawls and power were the most commonly known to the other races. What wasn’t known was that their desire to take over was fueled by their intense love for their mates and family and their desire to give them the world.
“That happened many, many years ago. Alik’r is long gone having met his fate on the battlefield, but he is still honored for his decisive victory over the murderer of his wife and his form of punishment is now a normal sentence for any Droconian who dares to murder the loved one of another without just cause under the law.”
* * * * * * *
Titan leaned over and tucked the child in as he pressed the button on the vision tablet.
“Grandpa, the one in the beginning looked like you.”
“Goodnight.” He chuckled as he flipped off the light and walked out of the room.
“One day, you’re going to have to tell her how you know that story so well,” said his son.
“One day, perhaps, but for now let me enjoy telling her of that time my way.” He smiled at his son and walked down the corridor. “Besides,” he said, “what good would it do for her to know now that it was that event that shaped how the war would go? Does she deserve to know that had he not shown mercy Jiorn would not have been able to run to humans to help them win the war? No, let her have her hero, her epic love. She’ll grow up and learn about that all in due time.”
Titan continued on to his room leaving h
