"Of course not, we've already won!" David looked at Tannis in surprise. "Oh my God, you don't remember the Golden General and the Good Dragon, you must be very drunk-"

"Oh, that's right," Tannis said hurriedly.

"I'll stop over here, it's a fish market," David jumped out of the carriage, "they'll know." ”

"We're going with you. Tannis gestured for everyone to get out of the car.

"What's the big news?" David shouted to a group of men and women standing in front of the fishy smell. Several people immediately turned around, and everyone rushed to speak. Tannis followed him, only fragments of conversation could be heard. "General Gold has been captured! The city is about to end...... People run away...... Evil Dragon...... "No matter how hard they try, it's hard for everyone to get these people to confide in strangers, especially after seeing them wearing such gorgeous clothes.

Once again, they thanked David for sending them to the city, and then let him talk to his friends. After a few moments of discussion, they decided to head to the market and try to figure out what was going on. The crowd grew denser, and later on, they even had to push the people around them away to move forward. People run around, ask about the latest rumors, and shake their heads in disappointment. Sometimes they see residents with their luggage on their backs, hurrying towards the city gates.

"We should buy some weapons. Caramon said with a solemn face. "That doesn't sound good. Guess who this Golden General is! People seem to think highly of this guy, and his disappearance seems to have made everyone confused. ”

"Maybe some Sorenian knight," Tannis said. "You're right, we really should buy weapons. He put his hand on his belt. "Damn! I just had a whole bag of strange old gold coins, and now it's gone! Isn't our trouble enough?"

"Wait!" Calamon fumbled with his belt. "What the hell! Damn! my wallet was still there!" the warrior turned around and saw a small figure disappear into the crowd, still holding a tattered leather bag. "Hey, it's you! that's my thing!" Calamon yelled, pushing the crowd away and lunging at the thief. Reaching out, he grabbed the thief's vest and lifted him off the street.

"Give me back the money—" The tall warrior was taken aback. "Tysokhov!"

"Karamon!" Tysokhov shouted.

Calamon put him down in surprise. Tessokov looked around in surprise. "Tannis!" he shouted as he saw the half-elf emerge from the crowd. "Oh, Tannis," Tess snapped to his old friend, tears streaming down his face.

The inhabitants of Karaman crowded from the city walls and looked out of the city. It was only a few days ago that they had done the same thing, but at that time it was to watch the knight and the silver dragon and the golden dragon enter the city, and Xin Qian was excited at that time. Now they were silent, and their faces were full of despair. They watched as the sun slowly rose to the very center of the sky. It was almost noon, and they waited quietly.

Tannis stood beside Flint, his hand resting on the dwarf's shoulder. The old dwarf almost broke down with joy when he saw his friend.

It was a sad reunion. Flint and Tay kept their voices low, taking turns intermittently telling them what had happened months earlier, after leaving Tassis. When one person says there is no way to continue, the other continues. Therefore, everyone learned about the discovery of the Dragon Slayer Spear, the destruction of the Dragon Ball, and the killing of Stone.

Tannis lowered his head, the news made him very sad. For a moment, he couldn't imagine what the world would be like without this noble friend. Seeing Tannis's grief, Flint continued to choke up about Stone's greatest victory and the peace he had finally found after his death.

"He's a hero of Sorenia now," Flint said. "His deeds have become legends, like Shuma. His sacrifice saved the Knights, at least that's what the legend says. That's enough for him, Tannis. ”

The half-elf nodded wordlessly. Then try to smile, "Go ahead," he said. "Tell me what Lolana did when she arrived in Paranzas. Is she still over there? If so, we want to go there—"

Flint and Theis exchanged glances, the dwarf bowed his head, and the Kanderman turned his head away, wiping his little nose with a handkerchief.

"How?" Tannis noticed that his voice was different from what he had used to. "Tell me. ”

Flint slowly finished the story. "I'm sorry, Tannis," the dwarf said, sobbing, "I let her down—"

The old dwarf began to sobb sadly, causing Tannis's heart to ache as well. He hugged his old friend, trying to share his pain.

'It's not your fault, Flint," his voice hoarse. "If it's anyone's fault, it's probably my fault. She risked her life for me. “

"Blame anyone, and the gods will end up blaming the gods," the river breeze patted Tannis' shoulder. This is the saying of my people. ”

Tannis didn't feel any better. "When is the Dark Maiden coming?"

"Noon," Tyce whispered.

It was almost noon, and Tannis, along with the rest of Karaman's inhabitants, stood on the city wall and waited for the arrival of the Dark Maiden. Gilsenas deliberately stayed away from Tannis, pretending not to see him. The half-elf didn't want to blame him. Girsenas knew why Lolana would go on an adventure, and he knew what bait Chitila was using to get his sister to take the bait. When he coldly asked Tannis if he was really with the dragoon Chitila, Tannis had no way to deny it.

"Then you're responsible for what happened to Lorana," Gilsenas' voice was filled with anger. "I pray to the gods every night, that no matter what tragic fate befalls her, you will be a hundred times more miserable than her!"

"If that can bring her back, of course I'd gladly accept it!" Tennis yelled angrily, but Girsenas just turned away indifferently.

People are now starting to talk to each other, pointing to the sky. A dark shadow appeared in the sky: a blue dragon.

"That's her dragon," said Tysokhov with a solemn face. "I've seen it in the Tower of the Kings. ”

The blue dragon languidly circled over the city, then leisurely landed within range of the bow and arrow. When the knight on the dragon's back stood up, the city fell silent. The Dark Maiden took off her helmet and spoke, her voice distinctly clear in the clear sky.

"Now you know that I have captured the elven woman you call the Golden General!"

Chitila shouted. "In order to give you a proof, I brought something like this. ”

She held her hand aloft. Tannis saw a glittering, delicate silver helmet in the sunlight. "You can't see it now, but in my other hand is a lock of blond hair. When I'm gone, I'll leave both of these things here so that you can have something to remember the Golden General. ”

The crowd gathered on the walls made a cacophony of noises. Chitila paused for a moment, looking at them coldly. Tannis looked at her, nails sinking deep into the middle, forcing himself to remain calm. He found himself unconsciously thinking about a crazy plan to jump from here and kill her with a single sword.

Jin Yue noticed the crazy, desperate look in his eyes and wanted to get close to take care of him. She felt his body tremble, and then at her touch, his whole body stiffened and tried to regain his composure. She looked down at his clenched fists and was surprised to see blood gurgling down her wrists.

"That elf, Lorana Serasa, has been sent to the Temple of the Queen of Darkness in Prorakka. Until the following conditions are met, she will be a captive of the Darkness Queen. First, after the darkness demanded the immediate surrender of a man called Belen, the Eternal One. Second, she demanded that the good dragon immediately return to St. Kexian and leave it at the disposal of Ereakas. Finally, the elves Gilsenas must order the Sorenian knights, the elves of Quelinnasti and Sivanasti to lay down their arms. The dwarven Flint furnace must also ask his people to do the same. ”

"It's crazy!' shouted Shimizu Senas, looking down at his daughter. "We can't agree to these demands! We don't know who this Belém is, and we don't know where he is. Nor can I answer for our fellow citizens, much less on behalf of the dragon of goodness. These demands are simply unreasonable!"

"It doesn't make sense after darkness," Chitila replied fluently. "After darkness know that you need time. If, when the time is up, you don't find the man named Belen, who once appeared near Forossen, or if you don't send the Good Dragon, I will come back again, and this time, you will not only have a bunch of hair in front of the city gate of Karaman!"

Chitila paused.

"You'll see her head. ”

With that, she threw her helmet at the dragon's feet, and the blue sky flew into the sky at her command. For a long time, everyone was silent. People looked down at the helmets in front of the city walls. The dancing red ribbon on it seemed to be the only movement, the only color. Then someone shouted in fear, pointing ahead.

A terrifying sight appeared on the horizon. Because it was so amazing that no one wanted to believe it was true at first, and everyone thought they were crazy. But as the thing floated closer, they had to admit that it was real! The horror of the thing remained.

For the first time, the people on Claes saw the invincible war machine of Eriakath: the Flying Fortress.

Black-robed mages and dark priests toiled beneath the temple of St. Keseen, rooting up a castle and making it float in the sky. Now, it floated above the dark clouds, lightning bolts illuminating its dark surface, surrounded by hundreds of blue and red dragons, and the fortress floated above the city of Karaman, obscuring the midday sun and letting the shadows of terror fall on the city.

People ran down the walls in fear. The fear of dragons has left the city's inhabitants in despair and panic. But the fortress did not attack. Wait three weeks, their master commanded. They would give three weeks to these frightened humans. During this time they will be constantly watching, and the good dragons and riders will not continue to win on the battlefield.

Tannis turned to look at the other companions, all staring blankly at the floating fortress. They were accustomed to the fear of dragons, and did not flee in panic like the rest of Karaman's inhabitants. Therefore, they were the only ones left above the city walls.

"Three weeks," Tannis said clearly, his friends turning to face him.

For the first time since they had left Furosam, there was no longer that self-reproachful sadness on his face. There was only serenity in his eyes, just as Flint had seen in his eyes after Stone's death.

"Three weeks," Tannis said in a calm voice that startled Flint's bones, "we've had three weeks." That should be enough time. I'm going to Nairaka, I'm going to look after the darkness. His eyes fell on Belém, who was standing quietly beside him. "You want to come with me, too. ”

Belen's eyes widened in fear. "Don't!" he wailed and ducked back. Seeing that he was about to flee, Calamon immediately grabbed him with his thick arms.

"You will go with me to Nairaca," Tannis said softly, "or I will give you to Gireenas now." That guy loves his sister a lot. If he thinks he can set her free, he won't hesitate to hand you over to the Dark Queen. You and I both know it's useless. Even handing you over won't change anything. But he didn't know. He's an elf, and he trusts her to keep her promises. ”

Belen glared at Tannis wearily. "Won't you hand me over?"

"I'm going to get to the bottom of what happened," Tannis said coldly, without answering the question directly. "Either way, I need a guide, someone who knows the place well......"

Belen broke free of Calamon's hands and looked at them helplessly. "I'm willing to go," he said reluctantly. 'Don't give me to the elves......"

"No problem," Tannis said coldly. "Stop crying. I'm leaving before dark, and I still have a lot of things to attend to—"

He turned suddenly, not surprised that a pair of strong hands grabbed him. "Calamon, I know what you're going to say. "Tannis didn't turn back. The answer is no. Belém and I are going alone. ”

"Then you're going to die alone," Calamon said quietly, insisting on not letting go.

"If that's the case, that's my choice!" Tennis, unable to break free from the big man's grasp.

"I don't want the rest of you to follow me. ”

"You're going to fail," Callamon said. "Is this what you want? Are you just trying to find a way to die with guilt? If so, I can give you a knife right now. But if you really want to rescue Lorana, you'll need our help. ”

"The gods have brought us back together," Jin Yue said softly. "They reunited us at the most critical moments. This is a signal from heaven to us, Tannis, do not deliberately turn a blind eye. ”

The half-elf bowed his head. He couldn't cry, the tears had dried up. Tysokov's small hands grabbed him.

"And," said the Kander cheerfully, "think how much trouble you would have gotten without me!"

The ghost book is cute, and the mosquito is self-pleating

Text Chapter 18 A Candle Word Count: 4900

The night after the Dark Maiden's ultimatum, the city of Karaman fell silent. Mayor Kajoff declared a state of readiness, which meant that all the bars were closed, the city gates were locked, and no one could leave. The only people who can enter are residents who have taken refuge from nearby villages and fishing villages. These refugees swarmed in at sunset, telling horrific tales of dragons burning in their homeland.

Although some of the nobles in Karaman City were not in favor of entering a strict state of readiness so quickly, Tannis and Girsenas came together in a rare way to persuade the mayor to take such a step. Both men vividly describe the tragic fall of the city of Tarsis in the flames. This makes them particularly convincing. Mayor Kajoff quickly gave the order, and then could only stare helplessly at the two men in front of him. It was clear that he didn't know how to defend the city. The shadow cast by the floating fortress left the mayor completely dispossessed, and his generals were no better. After listening to their many whimsical plans, Tannis stood up.

"I have a suggestion, my lord," he said respectfully. "There's a guy here who is well qualified to handle the city's garrison—"

"You, half-elf?" said Gireenas with a wry smile. "No," Tannis whispered.

"Girsenas, it's you. ”

"An elf?" said Mayor Kagoff in surprise.

"He used to be to Tarsis. he