"Simple, but effective," Eris said, sipping on water instead of wine. "A few well placed shots'll stun the beast. Bring it's head down to us, then we'll do the rest."
In their armor, refined after a night on Dresmund's forage, they sat amongst one another within the dinning hall, other villagers joining in.
"If, for any reason he focuses his attention on you, one of us'll cover you," Eris said, thumping the great shield Dresmund finished moments before the meeting. "Last of the ironite's in it, but it'll ease Hardok's flames for one, maybe two breaths."
"I'll take it," he suggested, running his fingers along the shields brim. "You can hit harder, no sense in slowing you down."
Eris smiled. "There'll be plenty for us both brother."
"Indeed!" Paul said, slamming a spear down on the table. "The great dragon's rein comes to an end on this night!"
Everyone rolled their eyes.
Leon sighed, "All due respect Elder, this is a matter for experienced warriors."
Paul, a crooked grin, snickered, "I've been sitting idle too long, I can see why one would want to embrace the soulless nature!"
"It's not nature," he spat, "it's a fight! You learn something more about yourself with each one, and when finally getting that sweet victory, there's no other better feeling!"
Many looked at him, some afraid, and Paul raised a hand.
"My apologies, friend, I-I just wanted to help."
He sighed, scowling the old fuck, then made his way to the door.
Al joined him, everyone else farewelling or wishing Leon and Eris luck.
She grasped his hand, "He was just trying t-."
"I know," he said, tightening his hand with hers. "Just sick of hearing how it's some, cursed thing I been fond of."
"You are obsessed," she said, putting a hand on his chest, "and, are you certain there's no better feeling in the world?"
They shared a small laugh, and a kiss.
"It'll be good to see the Embers," he said, Eris opening the hall door to a windy white morning.
"We will," she said, fighting back tears.
They stared at one another for a moment longer.
At the door, Paul apologized again, agreeing to stay out of their hunt. He gave the old bastard a hug, as he knew for certain it'd be the last time he smelled of pipe weed.
"Take care of yourself," he said, ruffling the old man's hair. "Answer your gods, whenever they speak."
"Yes," Paul said, bowing. "Thank you old friend."
Many stood just outside their doorways, cheering and waving.
It was unlike any celebration he'd seen, all the seasonal festivities. Villagers, most of them risen from the swamp, either whistled for the party, or cursed towards the mountain. Even as fire shined, smoke towering as a black cloud, no one stopped cursing at Hardok.
The dragon heard, he knew it did.
Wings spread, and Hardok soared.
A few fell silent, and the dragon roared, spewing fire wild, a flaming lash of hisses. It was a challenge, and cheering broke out again as flurries fell.
The party arrived at the trails, and the climb up was silent for the most part.
Not a harsh scorching, biting, fire steamed atmosphere as before, it seemed Hardok was putting all his energy into the summit. Rocks didn't fall, icicles remained in place, birds even flew by, chirping as if death wasn't burning with malice above.
Eris was startled. "Don't like it. He's too quiet."
"Could argue he's not even up there," Leon said, getting close to the cliffs edge, looking up.
He checked himself, and sure enough Hardok was eyeing them.
There was well over a mile left in the hike, but Hardok was fixed on them, not a flinch. Were it possible to see the dragon's eyes it very well wouldn't have been blinking. Talons dug into the cliffs, but nothing rumbled down.
"I swear he's looking right at me," Al whispered.
"He's watching all of us," he assured her.
'I wouldn't have it any other way,' he gloated to himself.
It'd been so long since facing a worthy opponent.
Silver offered little more than a pup's claws, and though his arrogance got the better of him, he couldn't afford such a luxury once at the summit.
His flail hung behind him, the hilt on his shoulder. It wasn't as large, but the head was just as heavy, and though there was a slight imbalance to it, he could swing it easy enough. He gave it a few practice swings as the party rested, even allowing Eris to give it a go.
"I'd have killed many ogres with this," Eris said, handing the flail back to him, "and wolves."
"Werewolves?"
Eris nodded. "I found my axe in the tunnel, but the wolves waited for me outside. Slaughtered plenty of them, but they just kept coming, then the white alpha arrived."
"White? You sure it wasn't silver?"
"There were a few silver runts about," Eris said, facing the woods below. "One must've taken up the pack when I put down the white dog."
All the more reason he needed to slay Hardok.
Somehow, someway, he'd end up delivering the finishing blows, though if he didn't there'd be no harm done. Anything to get of the gods' forsaken mountains.
By sunset, growls started.
Smoke filled the air, Hardok whispering amongst the winds. Cursing, calling them everything, their mothers, soulless lot of the death god, and much more. It was difficult to see, and they took their time, Eris stumbling back after almost walking off a cliff.
"Stick to the wall," Leon said, looking up.
Al nocked an arrow, light shining right above.
It was perfect.
There wouldn't have been a better way to start. She looked at him, then the others. Leon and Eris nodded, stalking up, leaving the two behind.
She tapped his shoulder. "Get going."
"Are ya' daft?" He grumbled.
"Lead him on, I'll be fine."
He didn't want to let her go.
'Move ya' salty bastard, move!'
As he stomped up, joining Eris and Leon, Hardok's jaws ignited. When the dragon spoke, its jaws didn't move, and all the air rolled like thunder were cutting into the mountain.
What business is it of yours, to come so far? Stay in your little nest, ye' abominations of the Lords!
"Shove it up your arse!" Eris snapped. "Spinless wet bitch, sitting up there, hiding from us!"
Hardok growled, so low, he believed his chest would crack open.
I'll take my time with you! Pestering me for the last y-.
Steel hissed, inches above the party, striking Hardok's left eye.
The dragon wailed, standing on its hind legs, whining more than roaring. It leaned over the summit's edge, cursing, trying to claw out Al's well lodged arrow.
"Hurry!" Eris shouted.
Leon bust out in full stride, so far ahead, they lost sight of him as the trails ended.
He was bit slower, flail and armor weighing him down, but felt the battle lust on them both. Steam rose out their sockets, Eris' flowing as even the mightiest of dragons would. Hardok's ground shaking roars boasted their steps.
Already engaged, Leon leaped, and dashed beneath waves of rolling fiery gusts.
It was a sight to see, the fastest man he'd ever seen, sprinting clear of dragon fire so easily. Hardok stomped round the summit, slamming tavern hut sized palms through rocks. Claws dug into the summit, ripping rocks into the air.
He and Eris leaped or rolled out the way.
Hardok, focused on Leon, didn't see them charging his ankles.
Eris kept going, but he stopped within range of his flail.
Chain rattles made his chest flutter. He felt to be a lad on a holiday morning, or a lady receiving a ring for holy vows. The flail was his lady, and he its cruel bastard in shining armor. A swing, his arm muscles throbbing, and he missed.
Hardok took flight, winds almost knocking him over.
He shouted, damning whatever sky lords cursed him, knocking his hilt against shield.
No more than a fifty meters above, arrows landed in Hardok's eye, the same eye. The dragon cursed, roaring with fire leaking jaws.
"Down!" Leon shouted, sprinting for the nearest boulder.
Tucked behind his shield with Eris, the two huddled as fire rained.
They cursed, then grunted, flames licking their ankles. Stings ran along his lower legs, and even Eris yelped, trying to stay tight. The downpour didn't stop. It melted away part of his shield, the brim turning to a bright liquid.
Hardok roared again.
He caught a glimpse of the dragon, diving to the cliff's edge.
Fire engulfed the summit, and were he to take off he'd not last more than ten paces. Al was there, ducked behind a cliff on the summit. Hardok shattered it, turning rock into pebbles, littering the summit with fiery debris.
He shouted, crying out to Al.
Hardok snarled, turning his way.
Eris charged, and he followed, flames withering enough for them to run.
A mouthful of fire, Hardok leaned back. Arrows landed in his tail, and he growled, stumbling forward. After spinning around, he spewed down, though another arrow struck him in the same eye.
Eris leaped, grasping Hardok's tail. He swung up, scathing his flail into the lashing scaly whip. Bone's cracked, and Eris fell, still holding the tail as it landed on the summit. He bashed with his flail, Eris hacked with his axe, and they severed the tail off.
A raging Hardok spun around, leading with smokey jaws.
He swung his flail, shattering teeth in a single blow. Eris carved into the dragon's neck, though Hardok swatted them away.
Eris rolled, to the cliff's edge, inches from falling.
He almost rolled off himself, though Eris snatched him up. After being pulled back over, they faced a towering Hardok. On its hind legs, the dragon spread its wings, flapping with the force of a storm. A storm unlike any he'd faced, and even tucked behind his shield, he and Eris inched closer to the cliff.
Fire brewing within the belly, Hardok's breath sparked. An arrow landed within his opposite eye, and he wailed. Blood running from his sockets, he sniffed, facing Al, who's quiver was empty.
The dragon charged, stomping apart the summit so much its northern side began to give way. Before it reached Al, Leon, running along its back, leaped atop its head.
Heavy spear in hand, Leon drove it through.
Hardok whined, spewing fire towards the skies erratically.
Eris at his side, the two charged the dragon's feet, the summit sifting to one side. It was all about to give. He swung his flail, shattering Hardok's tendons. Eric hacked, as though cutting down an oak, and Hardok leaned over.
Towards the summit's collapsing side, Hardok slammed down.
"Curse you fucking monsters!" The blood blinded dragon wheezed. "Curse you all….you'll rot…"
The summit caved in.
All at once, rocks tumbling everywhere, they felt to be descending. They didn't fight it, not panic, as they knew they'd awaken.
The same couldn't be said for the White Rider's greatest mount, and Hardok's cries rang within the mountains beneath a flurrying midnight.