Chapter 7 - The Breaking of the Chains
The guards looked from Cedric to Magistrate Rowan, then toward Elowen standing fearlessly beneath the towering wings of the dragon. None of them lowered their weapons, but none of them released their arrows either. Fear and hesitation paralyzed their ranks.
The dragon let out one final, earth-shattering roar.
The last shadow chain—thick as an oak trunk and glowing with a malevolent, dark purple light—snapped right down the middle.
The shockwave blasted outward in a blinding ring of golden fire and wind. The guards were thrown backward into the mud, their torches hissing and extinguishing as they hit the wet grass. Cedric stumbled violently, falling hard onto his back with his expensive riding coat soaked in filthy water. Rowan dropped to one knee, bracing his sword against the ground to keep from being swept away.
Only Elowen stood firm.
The golden light crested over her, warming the cold rain on her skin like a sudden summer sun. The heavy shackles dissolved into fine mist, evaporating into the stormy night air until nothing remained of the ancient binding magic.
The dragon lowered its enormous head slowly, bringing its snout down until it rested gently against Elowen’s shoulder. The heat radiating from its scales was immense, drying her soaked dress in seconds.
The storm clouds above the silver grove suddenly tore apart, revealing a patch of clear, starry sky right above the clearing.
Elowen raised her hand, resting her palm softly against the warm, bronze-gold scales of the creature's cheek.
The dragon exhaled a long, gentle breath that smelled of ozone and ancient earth. Then, slowly, it unfolded its magnificent wings, casting a shadow that reached past the estate boundaries and across the entire valley of Moonvale.
Rowan struggled to his feet, wiping mud from his face. He stared up at the liberated creature, then slowly looked at Elowen. The social hierarchy that had governed Moonvale for centuries felt suddenly fragile, like dry parchment touched by fire.
Cedric scrambled backward on the mud, his voice trembling with unbridled panic. “It’s... it’s going to destroy us all. Look at it!”
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Elowen turned her head slowly, looking down at the young lord from her position beside the dragon. She didn't shout, and she didn't boast. Her voice simply carried the quiet, undeniable weight of a new dawn.
“No, Cedric,” Elowen said softly, her hand still resting against the dragon’s warm scales. “It’s only going to look around.”
