One hundred soldiers marched through a field of tall grass. The dragon Reza Abdullah flew above them. His keen draconic eyes picked up three riders at the apex of a far-off hill.
Reza whispered to his general, Towards that hill to the northwest. I see horsemen.
The general ordered his men in that direction.
After half an hour of marching, they reached the base. Reza flew higher to see over the hill. In the next valley, he saw the cowboys' encampment.
I’ve found their camp, he said. Take the hill.
The general led his men up the arduous slope to the top. Spearmen lined up shoulder-to-shoulder. Archers lined up in front of them. Cavalry arrayed at both flanks.
"We’re outnumbered," said the general, "but we have the high ground. Let’s make them come to us."
The men watched as a blue, serpentine form slithered out from one of the tents and took flight. It flew slowly, casually, toward Reza, stopping to hover at one hundred yards.
You’re new, said Zan. What happened to Nahash? I enjoyed embarrassing him. I was hoping to enjoy it again.
Nahash had other business, said Reza. I am Reza Abdullah, and you’re dealing with me now.
I doubt you’ll be as much fun as he was, said Zan. I guess all you military types are mages, huh?
That’s right, said Reza, and I know you are not.
Nope! said Zan. Never did like numbers. Performance, on the other hand — at that, I excel. Fancy a duel? Think your fire and lightning will save you?
I’m here to kill bandits, said Reza, not to prove anything.
Reza fired a beam of white-hot heat in Zan’s direction. Zan dodged nonchalantly, as if he had expected it. Reza tried a few more times. Zan was quick.
I have to get closer, whispered Reza to the general. I’m going to try and bring him down close to your troops. Be ready to hit him with a volley of arrows, then send in the cavalry to finish him.
The general looked up and nodded.
Reza focused his will and opened a hole in space between he and Zan. He flew through and came out ten yards above the enemy. He immediately singed Zan with a small bolt of lightning.
Zan hissed. Watch this, he said.
Reza watched as Zan disappeared before his eyes.
Reza narrowed his eyes in irritation and focused his will, trying to cast off the spell. He gasped as three slashes opened up in his side. Zan had snuck up and clawed him, but Reza still couldn’t see him. He flew upward.
The soldiers below could see Zan just fine. They wondered why their dragon looked lost.
One of the men yelled, "General!"
The general looked at the soldier, then looked where he was pointing. The cowboys had assembled on horseback at the base of the hill.
The soldiers and cowboys watched the dragons circle one another a mile up. There were bursts of fire and lightning. After a few minutes of fighting, the soldiers saw Reza hit Zan with a blast of force that sent him tumbling to the ground one third of the way down the hill.
"Archers!" shouted the general.
The archers let two volleys fly. Ninety arrows sailed toward the fallen serpent. Some seemed to veer off at the last minute, but at last half of them connected. Zan looked at the soldiers in horror and whispered to the general, No! What are you doing?
The cavalry thundered in and filled Zan’s body with spears. His eyes and mouth got wide as life leaked from his body. He looked the general in the eye and whispered, How? Why? Then he collapsed and died.
The soldiers cheered, then stopped abruptly ten seconds later. Lying dead before them, full of spears and arrows, was their dragon. They looked up. The blue dragon circled above them.
Fooled you! he said to the assembly.
Zan focused his will. Two out of three soldiers suddenly found themselves falling through the endless void of space. There was no Earth, Moon, or Sun — nothing but stars and blackness.
The remaining third of the soldiers saw their comrades fall to the ground screaming about falling into the sky.
The cowboys thundered up the hill. They made short work of the company.