The Deceit

THE DECEIT

It had started again, and it was my fault. Last night I went out to hunt food. There was a brief break in the clouds, just enough for me to glimpse my moonlit shadow on the grassy mountain side. I was back in the cover of trees in seconds, but still too late. I heard the clanging alarm. There was no doubt. The guards saw the shadow as well. They knew I was there. They wouldn’t come out yet. Not at night, especially a cloudy night with the moon hidden. Better to hide in their stony fortress.

They would take council and plan, as would I. How any times had it come to this? It never had to be this way between us, but the equation seemed set; their fear, our foolish pride, and always a sum of death, and deceit.

I wouldn’t attack. That was once our way, but with so many of us dead we learned to survive. From my hiding place in the mountains I could see their stronghold. The huge wooden gate would lower between the castle turrets to bridge over the watery moat. Once, armor clad men on horses and foot would come out by the score looking for us. Clouds of dust and clanking armor were fueled by the heavy breathing of massive war horses. Once, we would have met the challenge. Steel…..fire …..blood…… screams. Once the slaughter would have been horrific, for both sides.

Now, it was a game of wits for both sides. I couldn’t afford to disappear. They had to find me. If they didn’t, their fear would grow, and sooner or later they would come in large numbers. I had to leave a trail they could follow. Then a small number would come with stealth. Maybe just one, but more likely two. One to distract my attention and one to kill me.

Before dawn, I returned to where my shadow had been cast. They would begin the hunt there, and that was where I would begin leaving a trail. It was subtle, a half snapped branch, a crushed fern, part of a claw print in the ground. Enough to track, but not enough to raise suspicions of a trap. It was also roundabout, not straight up the mountain. It was more like a route made to shake off any pursuers, all part of the deceit.

No need to prepare the cave. That was always ready. Small piles of dry branches and tinder were left about in the open. Much more was hidden behind the rocks at the sides of the cave. The rest of the cave was a deception as well. Rocks and boulders, seemingly randomly scattered, were carefully placed. They formed no barricade, but rather broke up the line of sight for any intruders, and created shadows. Behind boulders in the back of the cave I hid in the shadows, for now.

I heard them coming. One slid into the cave in the shadows. He thought I couldn’t see him. He was right, but I heard him. He would be the killer, with spear and sword. The second man came a few minutes later. He was their deceit, with body armored and carrying a heavy shield. He entered in the open, and made no attempt at silence. He stood in the center of the cave entrance, like a sitting target.

Now the game was on. No point in making it last long. The sooner it was over the better. I raised my body up and out of the shadows. Quickly I spit my fiery breath at the man with the shield. Not enough to kill, but enough to ignite the tinder. He crouched behind his shield, and backed up a step. Fire, smoke, and shadows all now came into play, the second man stepped out of the shadows while I was “distracted” by the man in armor. He had to act quickly, then flee if he wanted to live. Legend had it that once one of us was pierced with a weapon, the fire inside created an inferno consuming us entirely, and them as well if they didn’t get away quickly. He threw his spear through the smoke and shadows. His aim was good, but I caught the spear just as the tip started to brush my skin. No one lives as long as we do without lightening reflexes.

The men were already on the run. I held the spear to my side as though it had found its mark. One last roar, and a few blasts of fire to blaze the wood hidden at the sides of the cave, and the illusion was complete. A dying dragon was immolated.

The two men would carry the good news back to the castle. All was well thanks to the two heroes. The beast was burned up in its own flames. A fitting end for such a menace.

And me? No dragon ever picks a lair without two ways out. When night fell, I would slip away on the other side of the mountain in search of a new home. Until I had to play out the deceit all over again.