Beings of light, you say…
Aurelius sat coiled around his throne, his wings wrapped around him. Nahash sat coiled at the foot of the dais, his wings spread wide behind him, his head bowed in submission. Aurelius looked down at Nahash with scorn.
Tell me you’re not talking about forest spirits again, whispered Aurelius.
I don’t know what to call them, sir, said Nahash. They seemed immune to heat, cold, and sorcery. Lightning stunned them, but only for a moment. Nothing we tried seemed to hurt them.
Did you try hitting them with a rock? asked Aurelius.
No, sir, said Nahash. We tried almost everything else. These beings know magery, they can turn invisible, and they are fast.
I’ve never heard such nonsense, said Aurelius.
I would say the same in your place, sir, said Nahash, but I saw them with my own eyes. We fought with them. Sirajuddin can back me up.
I’m sure, said Aurelius with contempt. So you just gave up?
I can’t kill what I can’t hurt, sir. I can’t fight what I don’t understand. I need to figure out what we’re dealing with so we can take those woods next summer.
The dragon king stared down at his general for a long, long time. Go, he said. Get out of my sight.
Nahash slithered out of the hall.
His general stood waiting for him. "How did it go?"
About as well as you’d expect, said Nahash, but I think I get another chance.
"Good," said the general.
I need you to put together a team of scholars to research what we saw. Look in the histories, old folk tales, anything. Find something that sounds like these light creatures we encountered.
"Right away, sir."
Put out inquiries on the street as well, said Nahash. Find out if anyone in the capital has ever heard of anything like this.
"I’ll talk to the spy guy."
Good, said Nahash. Work quickly. I don’t know how patient the king will be for the answer. Likely not very.