"Let's say I dont." she snapped at him angrily "Let's say youre right, and I'm wrong. That you the almighty dragon know everything, and I am like a slug to you. Well, what are you going to do about it?! Eat me? If I'm so worthless why bother? Why bother keep me alive? Whats the point in this?!"

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Outside the cave, Denaris replaced his wards and dispelled the explosion curse. He was about to tuck the scroll away for future reference when he was ambushed. He glimpsed a movement out of the corner of his eye. Feigning ignorance, he continued to examine the scroll even as he prepared a fireball that would sear his victim's flesh off his bones.

The inadequately concealed lightning bolt passed centimeters away from his face. Reeling on the side of the mountain, he was forced to back into the cave for room. He kept a vigil in case Ladeos struck from behind but figured the dragon would be too entertained by this show to intervene anyway. A black robed figure darted out of his peripheral vision. The hood slipped back from his assaulter's face, and he recognized the mage as Seventh of the Council.

"Azriel!" he called, overjoyed. "Long time no see!'

The assassin said nothing, merely aimed another lightning bolt at Denaris's head. Denaris knew this to be a feint, and threw up a shield before the real assault came in full.

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"Why? You don`t listen at all do you?"

Ladeos said in fustration.

"First of all I would become a direct enemy to your other friends and I would be chased, not to mention I like to live a simple life..."

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"Well, I can tell why you have no friends then, lord dragon. Not by your answer, but by the way you act. You cant give a thought or care about someone, and noone gives a thought or care about you!"

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

"Ever considered that I don`t need or want anyone to care about me?"

Ladeos hissed as he layed down next to his treasure and opened his wing over them protectivly.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Cayo opend his wings again with a snarl
You have no heart. he shot at Ladeos.

Rhan sat on the floor, and crossed her legs, watching them with intessed.

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

"Should I?"

Ladeos smirked.

"What good is a heart for a loner who wants to be in peace, you could have left by now by the way and I am not ashamed of what I am, why should I be? I was raised this way as many of my kin are, if you didn`t know..."

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

"You're after the artifact," Azriel growled, pulling Denaris close and shooting a glance at the dragon's lair.

"My orders," Denaris shrugged casually.

Azriel's look strayed pointedly to the scroll.

"Is it my fault if I wish to evade certain death?" the other said. "But if you must do battle, I'm not stopping you. Nor am I coming to your funeral."

Azriel paused, considering the risks. He stole a glance at the massive black dragon, inside the cave speaking with the elf. Slowly he released Denaris.

"I'll help you steal it."

"I vastly appreciate your help. There's just one slight problem, however...."

"No, I won't turn you over to the Archmage."

Denaris grinned. "Then it's a deal." He turned around towards Ladeos.

"Where'd the elf come from?" Azriel muttered.

"I don't know or care, but if she could be eliminated it would make my job a tenfold easier."

Azriel frowned. "Leave it to me." And the assassin slipped quietly into the caver.

---------

The bulk of the silver dragon stood in his way. Azriel whispered an anti-detection spell, glancing behind him to make sure Denaris hadn't betrayed him. The Second of the Council stood waiting in the shadows outside the cavern. His face was shrouded in darkness, but Azriel could well imagine the complacent smirk on his face.

Azriel grit his teeth and made himself focus on the task at hand. He approached the elven dragon rider. His invisibility hid him from most eyes, but he was certain that if he lingered the silver dragon would sense his presence.

He raised his dagger to prepare for the killing stroke.

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Cayo snorted loudly and thumped his tail angrily at Ladeos' answer. Rhan looked up to him,
You should calm down my friend.
He sickens me!
I agree, but best not to play with fire aye?
The silver dragon snorted again, and wrapped his tail around his rider, and pulled her closer to his chest protectivly.
"You should hush your mouth dragon!" Rhan said venemously "Because one day, it'll be your fall."

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

The elementals that Ladeos had summoned returned to the cave waking Ladeo`s interest, Ladeos quickly ordered them to find all of his enemies and the elementals began attacking the assasins and the two mages. Ladeos got up in rage that these mages dared to defy him and opened his jaws to kill few of the assasins.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Azriel jerked back from the elf as he found himself suddenly ambushed by the elementals. Out of panic, he threw a shield around himself and began chanting a spell. The invisibility fell away at that moment, allowing all to see him for what he was.

He leapt clear from the jaws of the silver dragon and quickly turned to face Ladeos. He saw his own death reflected in the black dragon's eyes.

--------

Outside the cave, Denaris quietly swore under his breath. If he wanted to act, now would be the time. He cloaked himself similarily in invisibility, this time strengthening it with one of the talismans at his belt so it would not be so easily dispelled. He darted into the shadows of the cave, coming up behind Ladeos and his summoned elementals. Along the way he caught sight of the dragon rider. He toyed with the notion of killing her then and there, but thought better of it.

He cast a spell on the back of the cave. He had a few seconds to dispell the wards. If he failed, he may just find himself a prisoner along with the dragon rider.

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Ladeos quickly took away the mages cover and then casted a lightning bolt throwing the mage backwards, Ladeos moved quickly to kill and pressed his claws trough the poor mages chest impaling the him. Ladeos got him off with a cold smile and then noticed the black mage in the open with a cold satisfaction he opened his jaws to melt the insolent mage into ruble.

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Let him curse my name
On these blood stained pages of misery
Let him call me a tyrant so cruel
Let him curse my name, but remember the truth!

Cayo roared angrily, thrashing its tail about. The elf caught one of his neck spikes, and swung onto his back. Her mouth formed a protective spell quickly, then she slumped, the high usage of her magic finaly taking its toll. The silver dragon reared, and bore its teeth.

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

Azriel found himself impaled by the dragon's claws. His death gurgled in his throat. He managed one last puny fireball before his life poured out in the form of his life blood.

-------

Denaris, still behind the dragon and watching from afar, smirked. That smirk was wiped off his face as a lightning bolt as long as he was tall came crackling in his direction. He activated his wards. The shield absorbed much of the impact but the force jolted him nonetheless. Recovering, he wondered how in the world that dragon had managed to see through his invisibility.

He didn't have to wonder long, because Ladeos's attention was rapidly closing in on him. He took a breath to calm his racing heart.

"Lameo!" he called out. "Your rocky decor is simply amazing. I couldn't help but stop by to admire it!"

To add measure to his words Denaris brought to mind one of the most powerful spells he possessed. Ten tons of rock suddenly began moving behind him, levitating up and rushing at the dragon's face. It was a feint, however, to force the dragon to duck low.

[by the way how are we going to end this battle?]

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[You could win?]

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. O r b i s N o n S u f f i c i t .

[or I could lose. and Ladeos take me captive and your character team with mine to escape.]

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