The knight took a deep breath and slammed his sword into the fake dragon, slashing off its head. The Kander who was caught inside cried out in pain, but the people outside couldn't tell if it was because of surprise or pain.

"Ahh

Hubble grabbed the prosthetic head and pulled it away from his flaming neck. Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in the smoke. Stone turned around suddenly, the sword was already in his hand, only to realize that the person who came was River Wind.

"What are you doing?" the plainman glared at the dragonhead, perhaps thinking that Hubble and Stone had gone mad.

"The Kander are stuck inside!" ston shouted. "Surrounded by dragonmen, we don't have time to pull out slowly!

His words were swallowed up by the flames, but the river breeze finally saw the blue legs sticking out of the dragon's mouth. He reached into one of his eye sockets and lifted the faucet with all his might. Stone grabbed the other side, and the two men together carried the dragon's head—and the Kandes inside—and began to run through the camp. The dragonmen they met on the road were all frightened by the sight in front of them and ran away.

"Come on, little brother!" Calamon said encouragingly, his arm wrapped around his brother's shoulder. "You'll have to try to get up, we're leaving. What do you think. ”

"What do I think? What do I think?!" said Rodrith resentfully. "Help me to my feet. Now, let me be quiet for a moment!" he leaned against the trunk of the tree, trembling but barely standing.

"No problem, little brother. Calamon retreated traumatically. Scarlet Moon looked at Rodrith in disgust, remembering Calamon's grief when he saw his brother dying. She turned to look at the smoke, trying to discern her partner's whereabouts from inside.

Robert was the first to appear, running so desperately that he couldn't restrain himself and crashed into Calamon, and the warrior's large hands grabbed him and helped him stabilize himself from falling.

"Thank you!" Robert gasped. He bent down and put his hands on his knees, trying to regain normal breathing. "What about the others?"

"Aren't they with you?" Calamon frowned.

"We dispersed. Robert took a deep breath and coughed from inhaling too much cigarette.

"Oh my God!" Scarlet interrupted them in surprise. Robert and Calamon turned their heads at the same time and saw an unforgettable sight in the smoke. The head of a dragon, spitting out its blue forked tongue, flew towards them. Robert watched in disbelief, and then he heard a voice from behind him, almost causing him to jump up the tree in panic. He turned, a heart dangling in his throat, his sword clutched tightly in his hand.

Rodrith was laughing.

Robert had never heard the mage laugh – even as a child – and he wished he would never hear it again. It was a bizarre, creepy, harsh laugh.

Calamon looked at his brother in surprise, and Scarlet Moon had a look of fear on her face. Finally, Rodrith's laughter finally stopped, and the mage laughed silently, the light of fire reflected in his golden pupils.

Robert turned around and found that it was River Breeze and Stone carrying the head. Hubble ran ahead of them, a dragonman's helmet in his hand. Robert ran up to meet them.

"What are you doing—"

"The Kander are inside!" Stone said, throwing his head to the ground with River Wind, gasping incessantly. "We need to get him out. Stone looked worriedly at Rodlis, who couldn't stop laughing. "How did he do it? Hasn't the poison been solved yet?"

"No, he's much better. Robert said, checking the faucet.

"It's a shame. Stone muttered as he crouched down beside the half-elf.

"Wade, are you alright?" robert, shouting, lifting the dragon's mouth to look inside.

"I think Stone cut my hair off a bit!" cried the Kander.

"It wouldn't be bad if it wasn't his head!" Hubble said disdainfully.

"What's stuck in him?" River Wind crouched down and looked inside the dragon's mouth.

"I'm not sure. Robert cursed under his breath. "I couldn't see anything in this cloud of smoke. He stood up in vain. "We're going to have to get out of here! The dragonmen will soon be regrouped. Calamon, come here and see if you can tear him in half. ”

The stout warrior stood in front of the dragon's head, grabbed the eye sockets on either side with both hands, closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and began to lift it up with great force. I didn't see any change for a while.

Robert saw that the muscles of the big man's hands were bulging, and the muscles of his jaw were tense. Blood began to rush towards Caramon's head. Then there was a sound of wood breaking, and the tip of the dragon's head cracked with a click. Calamon staggered back, clutching the top half of the dragon's head in his hands.

Robert reached in, grabbed Wade's hand, and pulled him out with all his might. "Are you alright?" he asked, the Kander looking a little groggy, but the smile on his face was very bright.

"I'm fine!" Wade said excitedly. "It's just a little dizzy. Then his face darkened, "Robert," he said, with an unusual apprehension on his face. He stroked his long ponytail. "My hair?"

"It's all there. Robert replied with a smile.

Wade breathed a sigh of relief, then spoke. "Robert, this is the most exciting thing I've ever experienced – flying like that in the sky. Calamon's expression—"

"The story can be told later," Robert said firmly. "We need to get out of here first. Can you and your brother go?"

"Okay, no problem. Calamon said.

Rodrith staggered forward, his brother's strong arm supporting him. The mage looked back at the broken dragon head, his shoulders twitching, and he laughed silently.

Chapter 15 of the main text: Escape, Deep Well, and Death on Black Wings

Black smoke from the dragonman camp hung over the swamp, providing the best cover for their friends who were fleeing for their lives. Black smoke drifted like a ghost, completely obscuring the moonlight, and the group did not dare to create any more light.

Even the glow of the Rodelis Staff dimmed with it—they could clearly hear the incessant sound of horns all around, and the dragons were clearly trying to reorganize the chaotic camp.

The river breeze led the way, and although Robert had always been proud of his skills in surviving in the wilderness, he couldn't help but lose his sense of direction in the dark smoke. Occasionally, a corner of the sky would emerge from the smoke screen, and judging by the position of the stars, they were heading north.

They had not gone far before the river breeze accidentally stepped on the air and fell into knee-high mud. Robert and Calamon pulled the Plainsman out together, and Wade squeezed forward, probing the ground with Houpak's staff, but sinking with each attempt.

"It looked like we had no choice but to wade across the water. River Breeze said solemnly.

After picking a path that looked shallow, the group left the solid ground and began to step into the mud. The mud was ankle-deep at first, but soon reached the knees. As the mud deepened, Robert was forced to hold Wade in order to move forward, and the Kand giggled excitedly and grabbed the half-elf's neck. Hubble has always stubbornly refused help from others, and he doesn't even care if his beard is soaked in the mud.

Then he suddenly disappeared. Calamon reached into the mud and pulled Hubble out, carrying him on his shoulders like a bag of flour. The dwarf was so tired and frightened that he didn't even have the strength to open his mouth to protest, and Rodrith staggered and coughed, his robe making his movements even more difficult.

Coupled with the fact that his body was still affected by the last poison, Rodlis finally collapsed. Stone grabbed him and half-dragged him across the swamp.

After half an hour of non-stop progress in the icy water, they finally stepped on the solid ground and began to rest, their bodies shivering from the cold.

The branches began to sway from side to side, and a sudden gust of wind from the north caused them to sway incessantly. The wind blew away the fog, and Rodrith lay on the ground, looking at the sky, and suddenly, the mage held his breath and sat up alertly.

"Storm. He choked and tried desperately to continue. "Approaching from the north. We don't have time. We've got to hurry up! We've got to get to the lair of the lone dragon! Hurry! Before the moon goes down. ”

Everyone looked up at the clouds, and a large group of black clouds gathered and engulfed the stars in the sky. Robert could feel the pressure that made the mage so anxious. He stood up wearily, and the others marched forward without a word. The river breeze led the way, but the stinking swamp stopped them again.

"Don't come again!" Hubble grumbled.

"No, we don't need to wade again. Come and see!" said the river breeze, and he led the way to the water's edge, and among the many rubbles lay a square obelisk that I did not know whether it had fallen or been pushed down, forming a bridge over the swamp.

"I'll go first. Wade volunteered, energetically jumping onto the long obelisk. "Hey, there's some handwriting on it, it looks like some kind of symbol or something. ”

"I've got to go see!" Rodrith whispered, walking briskly forward, he uttered the incantation, "Schrak", and the crystal ball on his staff glowed.

"Hurry up. Stone glared angrily. "You will make the enemy within a radius of twenty miles inform us that we are coming. ”

But Rodrith didn't think about the situation of anyone else, he carefully read every spider-like symbol. Robert and the others climbed the stele to join him.

The Kander crouched down and touched the symbols with his little hands, "What does it say, Rodres? Do you understand? The words on it look old." ”

"Very old indeed," the mage whispered. "It's long before the cataclysm. It reads: 'Majestic Lair of the Dragon, the majestic lair of the dragon, is surrounded by beautiful scenery that speaks of the goodness of its people, and the gods reward us with it.' ”

"What an irony!" Scarlet Moon shuddered as she looked at the ruins and broken walls around her.

"The gods have indeed rewarded them," said Rodrith, with a sarcastic smile on his face, and no one spoke. Rodrith then said, "Dulac", and extinguished the light again. All of a sudden, the night looked darker. "We have to go," said the mage, "there must be something else that marks the city besides this inscription." ”

They crossed the monument into the dense forest. At first, they couldn't find any way, but River Wind searched carefully and finally found a path through the vines. He crouched down and examined it carefully, his face solemn.

"Dragonman?" Robert asked.

"Yes. He said heavily. "There are many paw footprints. They all face north, pointing directly at the city. ”

Robert lowered his voice and asked, "This is the ruined city—where did you get the crystal staff?"

"This is also the place I remember the Grim Reaper riding on black wings," River Breeze added. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face with his hands. Then he exhaled deeply, "I don't know, I don't remember - I don't even know why." ”

Robert put his hand on River Breeze's arm. "The elves used to say, 'Only the dead have no fear.' ’”

River Wind suddenly took his hand and startled the half-elves, "I don't know any elves," said the plainman, "my people don't trust them." Criticize them for not caring about either the candela or the humans.

I think maybe my compatriots are wrong. Glad I got to know you, Robert from Quilennotis. I treat you as my friend. ”

Robert knew some of the Great Plains traditions, and he knew that as soon as this phrase came out, River Breeze was willing to sacrifice everything for the half-elves from now on—even his life. The vows of friendship were of great importance to the Plainsmen. "You're also my friend. Robert said simply, "You and Scarlet Moon are my friends. ”

River Wind looked at Scarlet Moon, who was resting on the crystal staff not far away, her face losing its color from exhaustion. When looking at her, River Wind's resolute face was full of love and pity. Then he put on the ruthless mask made of pride.

"The lair of the lone earth dragon is not far away," he said coldly. "These footprints have been around for a while. He led the group into the forest, and after a short stretch of the trail to the north became a large road paved with cobblestones.

"One street!" Wade shouted.

"This is the edge of the lair of the lone dragon. Rodrith gasped.

"It's time too. Hubble looked around in disgust. "If the most precious gift is hidden here, it must be well hidden!"

Rob nodded in agreement, he had never seen such a dilapidated place.

A wide avenue led them to a vast square. To the east stood four tall and stout pillars, above which there was nothing, and the original building had collapsed beside them. A huge stone wall about four feet high stands upright in the center of the square. Calamon walked over to look at it, only to realize that it was a well.

"It looks deep. He approached as he spoke, looking nervously at what was going on inside. "Looks like it smells bad, too. ”

On the north side of the well is the only building in the city that appears to have escaped the cataclysm. It is made of white marble and is supported by four slender and tall columns. In the moonlight, two huge golden doors shone brightly.