Rammel and the Dragon

 No sooner did we make it to Eh'zanko, did I realize, I was not in Eh'zanko. The brutalist style of architecture and desolate, dirty buildings looked nothing like where I was trying to get to. If it weren't for the bland buildings, the two moons gave away that I was not on Earth.

 "At least, I have two beauties to look at amongst all this doldrum." Abryi remarked.

 I could feel his eyes on me.

 "Abryi, what did I say? Mara's not interested." Hina scolded.

 "Where are we?" I turned to Silas. If anyone had a clue it would be him.

 "Scarra." A voice came from behind me. I spun around quickly. Before me was my father, Rammel, flanked by several serpentine people bearing spears. Rammel continued to amble over, calm. Eerily calm. "Millennia ago, Scarra was part of the Interstellar United Republic, before the wars."

 "So, I know where we are; but, why are we here?" I asked. Something about Rammel always put me on edge. Perhaps it was because he was my father and yet I had to wait over twenty years to meet him or because I still blamed him for the destruction of my hometown. In that case, I should have also blamed Nesbeth. But, I didn't.

 "A'grappa the Dragon." His tone fell flat, displeasure in all of its notes. Every syllable of what he said told me how much he disliked who he was talking about. "The youngest of the Great Ones has awoken. He's here gathering power."

 "Gathering power?" Silas questioned. "How does a Great One do that?"

 "Think about any other religion that has ever been, Silas." Rammel responded. "Praise and prayer, naturally." Rammel looked us over. A sly smile graced his lips. "I see you've seen Talanys. You've all grown in strength." Then, to me, he said, "Especially you, Mara. Especially so. You've managed to absorb three Minor Ones, I see."

 "How?"

 "How do I know?" Rammel said, his voice held mirth. "As always, you fail to quiet the voices in your head."

 Behind Rammel the building exploded. When the dust began to settle, a red-headed man began to walk out from one of the doors, dusting off his shoulder. He grunted. "So, noisy. How dare you disturb my nap, Rammel."

 I took a better look at the man. Strong muscular legs covered in red scales, a muscular humanoid body covered in barbaric furs and scales, dark brown-tan skin in the places the red scales did not cover. His face was that of a reptile, like a Komodo dragon, with long pointed ears and curled black horns that peeked out from his long curly red hair. His mouth, as he smiled, was full of fangs. I could sense the danger from this man.

 "A'grappa."

 The man smiled harder.