Prologue of the second part of "Dragon Lance".

The last time he heard a human voice was more than three hundred years ago. To be exact, the last time he heard a human speak. During this time, he heard screams; It was shouted by those who had come to Daga Fort to confront him, and finally came to an abrupt end in the rapid gasps of blood rushing through his throat.

Sir South's Horn couldn't stand those fools. He can't stand those who search for mysterious treasures. He can't stand those who volunteer to eradicate harm to the people, because he knows the facts (and who knows better than this man who has practiced a knight's mission himself?). ）。 He knew how selfish the knights were, and these fellows were only interested in honor and listening to bards sing their names. He looked directly at their tainted souls through the shining armor. When he appeared, they lost all their courage and fell to their knees with a click, their bodies trembling in the shining armor, their mouths begging for mercy.

Sir Souths spared no one.

Who has had mercy on him? Who has heard his wailing? And now? The gods had returned, but he thought highly of himself and was unwilling to ask for Paladin's forgiveness. Sir Southe did not believe that he could be forgiven, and deep down, the Necro Knight did not believe that he deserved it.

In the grand halls of the abandoned castle, he sat on his throne and listened night after night to the singing of the elven woman, who was cursed like these souls and had to listen to ballads about his crimes. They sang of a noble and handsome knight whose passion was so unquenchable that he seduced an elven maiden and impregnated her.

They sang of the silent departure of the wife, who had been betrayed by her husband, and the elven maiden being welcomed to Daga Fort. They sang that when their new wives were horrified to learn the truth, they prayed to the gods that Sosi was not incorrigible and begged them to give Sosi a chance to atone for his sins. They sang the answer of the gods: Sir Loren Southey was instructed to persuade the Pope to give up the idea of becoming a god, thus appeasing the wrath of the gods. Soth could have prevented the cataclysm and saved thousands of innocent lives, and he could have glorified the court and been killed by posterity.

They sang of Soth's trip to Ishtar and his decision to save humanity at the risk of losing himself. They sang about themselves, and a group of cursed elven women stopped him halfway through, making up lies about his lover. They sang about the red apricot out of the wall and the wild seeds. They sang until Sosi was so angry that he galloped back to the castle, and then how he pulled his wife out, publicly accusing her of being a ** and the child being a wild seed. They sang of the gods throwing a burning mountain at Istah, shaking the earth and a huge chandelier with hundreds of candles falling from the ceiling and smashing on his wife and children. They sang that he could have saved his wife and children, but the desire for revenge was so strong that he watched indifferently as his wife's hair caught fire and listened to the child's frenzied screams as they blistered all over. They sang every night how he turned and walked away in desperation.

They sang at last—and he would always listen to his wife's curse on him—that he would live forever, the knight who had devoted his life to death and darkness, forced to reflect endlessly on his sins, counting minutes and seconds, days like years, time was empty and empty to him, as cold as an unredeemed soul.

In all these years, Soth hadn't heard anyone speak to him, and when it sounded, he thought for a moment that it was part of his dark meditation, so he didn't care.

"Sir South, I called you three times," the voice was haughty, angry at the other's ignorance. "Why didn't you say yes?"

The Necro Knight's armor was charred and stained with blood. Soth looked out of the helmet and saw a beautifully dressed woman, as dark and cold as the bottomless abyss she ruled.

"Taxis," he said, but didn't get up.

"It's Queen Taxis," she said unhappily.

"You're not my queen," he said.

Taxis stared down at him, her appearance changing. She transformed from a human female into a massive dragon with five tumbling, hissing heads. The monstrous monster loomed over Soth's head, all five of them screaming in anger.

"The god of light made you, but I can destroy you!" Taxis hissed. The fangs in the dragon's mouth dripped with saliva and slammed towards him. "I will throw you into the abyss, destroy you forever, torment you."

The wrath of the goddess had destroyed a world, but Sir Southe was not afraid of it. Not only did he not kneel, but he did not move at all, and he was calm. Soth sat firmly on the throne, his burning eyes looking at her faintly, undaunted.

"What's the difference between your so-called torture and what I'm suffering now?" He asked calmly.

The five heads stopped their threatening movements, dangling above his head, and all five brains were confused. After a few moments, the dragon vanished, and the woman reappeared, a smile on her lips and a seductive tone of persuasion.

"I'm not here to quarrel, my lord. Though you have hurt me, deeply and deeply, I am ready to forgive you. ”

"When did I hurt you, Taxis?" He asked. Although he no longer had a face, he seemed to smile sarcastically.

"You're in the service of the dark cause—" she said.

Sir Souths made a gesture of denial, indicating that he would not serve any cause, including his own.

"—but in the great war we waged, you just stood by and watched," Taxis said. "If you are willing to serve Emperor Ereakas, he will be honored—"

Sir South's flaming eyes gleamed, but the self-absorbed Taxis didn't notice.

"Everyone else is fighting blood," she sneered, "and you have locked yourself in this charred castle, lamenting your miserable fate day and night." ”

"As far as I know, ma'am," said Soth coldly, "your emperor has won the war. Most of Anseron is now under his rule. You don't need me and my army, so please leave and leave me alone. ”

Taxis stared at the Necro Knight. The cold wind poured into the ruins, blowing her tangled black hair up and down. The black strands reminded him of a dragon's head.

"Yes, we're going to win," Taxis said, "and I have no doubt that we're going to win." However, I have something to say to you, and only to tell you one. The gods of light weren't as vulnerable as I expected. Circumstance...... Well...... It's a little complicated. Emperor Eriakas and my dragoons would love your help. ”

It's a bit complicated, that's what she just said. Sir South's knowledge of the "complications" was well understood. The dragoons she boasted about were going to die. The other dragoons all want the crown of power, and they are outwardly united, but secretly intrigued. The elves of Quelinasti escaped the slaughter of the dragons. The dwarves of Sobadin also defeated the dragon army and drove the dark forces out of the kingdom at the bottom of the mountain. The Knight of Sorenia was defeated, but still alive. They want someone who can take charge of the big picture, and that kind of person can be there at any time.

The metal dragons, who had not yet joined the war, also began to get restless, believing that they might have made a mistake before. If the powerful golden and silver dragons under Paladin were on the side of the light, then the five-colored dragons would be in big trouble. Taxis needs to get Anceron under control quickly, before the metal dragons intervene in the war, before the increasingly awake forces of light form an alliance, and before the Solanian knights find a hero.

"I have one condition, Taxis," said Sir South.

The Queen's dark eyes burned with rage. She wasn't used to accepting any conditions. She is accustomed to giving orders and making the other party obey unconditionally. However, she had to suppress her anger at this time. Her most effective weapon is to create fear, but it is useless in the face of the Necromantic Knight, who has lost everything and has nothing to fear.

"What conditions do you have?"

"I serve only those who deserve my respect," said Sir South. "Therefore, if a dragoon will be brave enough to come to Daga Fort alone for the night, I will take my army with me and serve him willingly. I also want a dragoon who can spend the night alone in Daga Fort and survive. This dragoon will have to come of his own free will, and not under duress from you or someone else," Sir Southe added, knowing very well what the goddess thought.

Taxis glared at the Necro Knight silently. If it weren't for the need for him, the flood of Taxis' anger would have swept over long ago, tearing him to pieces and eating him in his stomach.

However, Taxis needs him, and he doesn't need Taxis.

"I'll relay your words to my dragoon," Taxis concluded.

"The Lord must come alone," Sosi repeated, "and of his own free will. ”

Taxis did not deign to answer. She turned and rushed into the darkness. That mournful song still resounds, singing endlessly about the tragic life of Sosi.