Dragonic Scammers - Chapter 2
Posté le 5 janvier 2026 --- 1 479 mots
The next day, as the afternoon entered it’s last minutes, Echo packed her gear and went to pay her fee at the tavern, determined for her adventure. She was heading north, right in direction of Ardismouth Keep. The ground was more walkable than the previous rainy days, but the sheer cold that started to settle down was rough. Luckily, Echo also had all coats necessary to endure that.
Her plan to enter the castle was a different approach than the last. She noticed during her previous attempt that a wood window panel was loose on one of the towers, that was the reason she bought the rope.
The early journey to the Keep felt both like an adventure and like a stressfull walk for Echo. Each step closer to entering the forest, she felt a conflict of emotions. Fighting her fear of failing once more, she was also deeply determined to help people.
Approaching the edge of the forest, she was know at 5km of the Ardismouth Keep. The forest felt dark, eerie. She gulped a bottle of night vision, and entered the forest. It was a dense, northern sapling type of forest, the kind that felt both magical and omnious. Echo was no stranger to those forest, but this one felt different. She felt like even at the entrance of the forest, the creatures of the keep were watching her.
And while she wasn’t followed to be attacked by said critters… She still was technically right, an black and red owl was following her, watching her. The red owl was sort of a spiritual summoning of Zandii, allowing her to see through the eyes of it and so, surveil the forest. The dragoness and Sirook were watching from one of the red velvet bedrooms of the castle.
Z : Aaaah, our little hero is making a comeback I see.
S : The same one as two days ago ? She really doesn’t let go.
Z : Indeed, and as I said, she feels different from the others, she doesn’t hold a thirst of glory in her heart, she seems to hold more of a want to help ?
S : Well, I’ll say, keep our guards up, but unlike the others so-called brave knights, we won’t attack her as much ? I know it’s a risk, but she, doesn’t seem to hold a violence mindset in her eyes.
Z : I was about to suggest that, let’s keep some guards but not fully armed. Now let’s get back to our date night, shall we ?
The duo of what could be considered as « draconic scammers », went back to the bedroom, each a sparkle of a deep sincere love in their eyes. The duo didn’t let the soon arrival of Echo break up their plans to have their lusty night.
Sirook didn’t think she would end up with a dragon, even though she always had this thing for such creatures, she never expected it to last this long… 15 years of sharing her life with such a dragonness as Zandii. Sirook were blushing, all this years shared with her love made her feel whole, loved, appreciated, their love was pure.
And while technically no one really judges human and dragon relations, they did the princess story more as a game, and as a way to be left alone, in peace, without the noise of human cities. Living in a keep filled with kobolds and critters was no quiet all the time, but it felt less agressive to Sirook rathern the noise of markets and humans cities.
The couple decided to let their defence crew protecting the castle, after all, they were strong enough to fend off some other adventurers. Entering their bedroom, Zandii pinned Sirook against the wall, her eyes burning red with love. « So… let’s get back to our business shall we, my dear ? » she said with a voice that felt so deep and echoed on the stone walls of the room.
« I was only waiting for you to invite me, my love », responded Sirook. As the cerulean scales of Zandii were radiating, the lovers jumped into the bed, both in skimpy clothing, ready for a good time between the two girls. A way for them to seal their 15th annniversary, and a way to kill time while waiting for Echo’s arrival.
Indeed, Echo kept marching deeper and deeper into the forest, inching closer, but still a long way to go. The forest felt omnious, but not dangerous, the kind of feeling where you know there are risks, but they won’t jump at you, it just felt like a pressure on your mind. A pressure she wasn’t unknown to, but was still felt in her heart. Her determination helping ease it, she was thinking about a plan to save the princess, knowing she didn’t want to kill the fierce dragon.
Echo doesn’t have it in her mind nor her soul the want to kill, but she knew she wouldn’t have the powers strong enough to beat one. So it would be a game of sneaking or hurting the dragon enought to distract enough to free the princess, at least in her mind, that was the plans she had.
The creaking branches of the dense forest and the whistiling of the wind through the trees were getting louder. Echo was gripping harder the handle of her black-steel dagger, curved blade and a ruby encased in the handle, the kind of daggers only the western regions of the kindgom had the knowledge of.
Reaching a first bridge, Echo knew she was getting closer, the bridge of the former first wall of the old keep was now just an old wood platform across a gap. Just 1km remaining before the castle, Echo decided to sneak in through an other way.
During her time at the Professor Abyssio’s healing den, she scrolled throught the books of the history of the land, finding an old map of the early plans of the castle. A small cavity, leading to the inside farm was accessible through the southern side, her last attempt was to enter throught the eastern side… with the consequences she was reminding.
Sneaking though the farm would be no easy task, this cavity was not even confirmed, but she decided that she would attempt, and it the cavity didn’t exist, the rope would have her use, sneaking though one of the windows of the tower. Echo tried to get around while in the forest, a way to try and avoid not getting seen too early.
To her sad surprise, the hole didn’t exist, so the rope solution was the only one. She pulled the long solid cord from her bag, and hurled it to try and catch one of the steel hooks around the windows, getting it after three attempts. Echo’s climbing journey began, using her swift movement, she managed to reach the window easily. Now the only question… opening the windows or breaking it ? Breaking it would be easier, but noisier, and if guards were too close, it could lead to a new failure.
She decided to try and open the window from the outside, managing to open it quickly and entering a dim room, filled with books and desks. She entered by the main southern library. Now, it was only a game of locating the princess, and avoiding guards. Echo’s heard some very faint noises that seemed to tell her the captive was probably around. Her brain was telling her to not rush it, it might be the princess, but it might also be the kobolds and critters protecting the place.
But one noise convinced Echo’s mind that it was indeed the princess, she heard a distinct moan in a room a few meters away, a faint moan, barely audible throught the stone walls. Her mind raced at a thousands thoughts an hour, she fought the princess was in danger. Impulsively she rushed to the noise, slamming the door where she heard the noise.
Sirook and Zandii were both in deep love, kissing ever so passionately the lust was about to take over them both. But the loud crash of the wooden door of their room made them both jump. Echo slammed their door, entering and making the three meet. Echo couldn’t believe her eyes. To her shock, she found the princess yes… but with the dragonness, both naked on the large bed. Echo was stunned by what she was, a thousands questions racing in her head.
S : Errrr Zandii ? What this part of your plan or should we begin to panic ?
Z : I… I’m not even sure my love.
E : « MY LOVE » ? Wait, what’s going on ? Why are you here ? I thought the story was that you held her captive ?