A pact with a dragon

[Gwendolin Cad'ell]

Gwendolin sat at the edge of the well close to the marketplace. With the tip pointing to the ground, she leaned slightly on a bastard sword, polishing the blade in a perfectionistic manner. Her crystal blue eyes lingered thoughtfully on the shining metal, while every of her moves seemed so cautios as if this blade would be made of the finest glass.
Actually the sword made a rather simple impression. The hilt was wrapped with rough leather and nothing else seemed to be of value. The only difference to any other sword was the gravure in the blade.
Gwendolins gaze fell on the wound at her right palm. It had the shape of a claw. She looked at it a few moments long before her crystal blue eyes scanned the sky above her. But there was nothing. Just a few clouds and one or two birds.
Thoughtfully her fingers ran over the gravure in the metal. " So this is the island known as Gobiath. The island that is known to be closer to the gods and closer to the hells gates than any other place in this realm. And I ask myself if I came here because I wanted to forget about you ... or because I wanted to be closer."
Gwendolin lowered her look back to the bastard sword that she had polished so lovingly.
"Now only a few days after my arrival I've saved a mans life for trading my own. A pact is a pact and Zhambra knows I would never break a promise. Life gifted me so many things and costed me the same. I've had everything a woman can wish and now I give myself entirely into Zhambras guiding hands. If my time has come now, I will die with my head raised... because I've followed my belief and my path and there is no reason to be ashamed. Maybe we will meet sooner again than I've thought...".

With this whispered words Gwendolin raised gracefully from the well and sheathed the blade which she held so precious. The sword of her fiance who had left her once so early.

[Ereaes]

Revlen's gaze lingered, as it so often had, apon the sky. He rememberd the day of the battle with the dragon. He remembered all to clearly, his right forarm most likely to be forever scard from the dragons firey breath. His gaze difted over the sky, and then it looked to the ground as his memories came to him, painfully clear.

Foolish perhaps he was to have followed the dragon, but he knew he must find it's intentions. "Why did you come into the town?" Revlen has inquired.
"I...wanted a place....suitable and peace to rest..." the dragon growled in responce. Revlen leaned against his bastard blade as he looked to the large beast, his eyes widened at the beasts next words. The large dragon spread its wings and looks arond the land and hissed "All this...all this is mine now."
Revlen knew that there was little he could do and said simply "So be it" but at the moment the words left his mouth a primal instict of anger and protectfullness sprung out in him, he charged the dragon, attempting to grab hold of its neck and drive his bastard blade into its brain. Thought the dragon proved quicker, turning its head and beating its wings, Revlen fell back and rolled apon the ground. "How dare you!" the dragon roared, in responce Revlen heaved his bastard blade, throwing it at the dragon. Satisfaction ran through Revlen as a curent through water as the blade pirced the dagons hide. Satisfaction was short lived, as the dragon removed the blade with its tail. Revlen growled and spoke "With that wound you will always remember me!" The dragon came and Revlen and put one of its claws apon his back.
The large man , in one last act of difience attemped to rise, growling the entire time, he managed to lift the dragons claw a small bit befor the dragon had him face fully back in the dirt.
Then she came, Gwendolin, to whom Revlen had met earlyer, begged mercy of the dragon despite Revlens calls for her to run and leave. The dragon kicked Revlen away, and told Gwendoline that she owed it a boon. The boon was her life for Revlen's. Revlen, laying exhausted apon the ground shook his head and spoke "No....Gwen dont do it." But the lass agreed and soon after dissapeard with the dragon.

Revlen's memory was destroyed by one of the banned orcs walking into town, he mumbled to himself "You hide will be mine and your life will be mine dargon." he sighed and whispered "Untill then i have lesser problems." He walked toward the banned orc, his axe shouldered.

[Gwendolin Cad'ell]

"A battle is only won, when there was no blood spilled. A true fight is only victorious if the blade is still within the sheath."

Gwendolin remembered those words that she held so dear to her heart. She never drew a sword without thinking twice about it, but she also never drew a sword without using it then. Gwendolin knew that a blade never replaces the mouth.

"100 Gold ingots", she thought. "That's a lot. Yet little compared to the life of people itself. Zhambra knows I will find a way to solve this without drawing blood of anyone."

And she casted her eyes on what she got from the dragon for offering him the ring of her fiance and a smile crossed her lips. Pure fire.

• "Mmh, well, I suppose you could have gotten more gold ingots for that. One day Lady Cad'ell I will teach you how to do proper trading.", Stephen Rothman smiled faintly.
  Gwendolin had casted her eyes on the man and replied in a gentle tone: "And tell me Sir Rothman, would I be a follower of Zhambra if I would make sure to get something myself from it?"

[Gwendolin Cad'ell]

As Gwendolin saw the creature disappear in the blue sky, she sighed in relief and leaned back against the wall of the arena.
It was over. Over for now. She was able to bring the dragon the gold ... and now she even knew his name. He would take the gold and go to a place to sleep. For months, years.. maybe even centuries.

The lady in the shiny armour, with the silver amulet and the white cloak casted her eyes on the back of her hand. The scar, her mark, would never disappear - nor would her pact. It was still valid.

"One day", Gwendolin thought. "One day we may meet again. Maybe I will be old an grey or maybe it will be sooner than I expect. Yet, rest well my friend. I thank Zhambra that no blood has been spilled."

With those words she straightened slowly from the wall and made her way back to the town called Trolls Bane...