The Dragon's Son

"Ah!" Katheren, terrified by the sudden bloody hand thrust before her face, stumbled backward with a scream.

Grayson, hearing the alarm, spun around to see Elyra, dressed in her black feathered robe, grinning mischievously before Katheren, her little hand raised high, smeared in scarlet.

"Hey, little troublemaker, what's up with that hand?" Grayson strode toward Elyra, glancing at Katheren who was struggling to catch her breath. He patted her shoulder to comfort her, then turned his attention back to Elyra.

"I was just giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder. Scaredy-cats always spook themselves to death!" Elyra retracted her bloody hand nonchalantly, looking up. "In the next room over, there are three more bodies. Looks like they were the family of the old man on the wall."

Seraphine, having arrived at the doorway, glanced at the trio and inquired about the scream. Grayson subtly shook his head to indicate it was nothing, then asked if she had found anything.

"That's exactly what I wanted to show you. Better come take a look." Seraphine gestured for Grayson to follow before disappearing into the darkness. Grayson grabbed Katheren's hand and, after giving Elyra a reproachful pat on the head, left the room to follow Seraphine.

Around a corridor, they stopped at another room. Inside, Seraphine pointed out an opened cabinet to Grayson, which overflowed with glittering gold and silver coins.

"This family had such wealth? This could easily cover the bounty on me!" Grayson snuffed out his cigar, scooping and weighing a handful of coins before tossing them back dismissively. "I think I'm beginning to understand what's going on here."

He met the expectant looks of the three women, his gaze settling on the scattered treasure. "First off, there's no sign of struggle in the room, so the family likely knew the murderer, indicating he was an accomplice."

"After taking the relic, they brought it through the tunnel to this house, then silenced the family and tried to pin it on me, diverting the pursuers. This money was probably meant as payment."

"But why leave it here? Why not take it?" Katheren questioned, gazing at the coins strewn in front of the cabinet. The girl, who had taken risks out of financial desperation, couldn't fathom why someone would abandon such a fortune.

"There are two possibilities," Grayson offered. "Either the person behind this is wealthy beyond need, or our arrival startled the murderer, leaving no time to move the money."

He glanced around the room, finding nothing else amiss, and strode out. "Come on, ladies. We need to go. Maybe we can still pick up the killer's trail and find where he's headed."

Just as they reached the mansion's gate, a cavalcade hurriedly appeared. The leader, donned in shining armor, brought his armored steed to a halt before Grayson.

"Who are you, and what are you doing here at this late hour?" the knight's authoritative voice rang out from under his helmet.

Grayson looked up at the emblem signifying the man's identity and muttered under his breath, "The Knights of the Silver Dragon's Wing. What are the odds?"

Before he could finish, the knights encircled them, their lances aimed at the group as torches flickered in the darkness.

"Are you 'Lone Wolf' Grayson, the man wanted by the empire for a decade?" the leader inquired after a moment's scrutiny.

"And I suppose you are Andros, the 'Dragon's Son,' commander of the Silver Dragon's Wing?" Grayson met the challenge with a smirk. "What brings such a noble knight under the Emperor's banner to this remote village?"

"Hmph, such smooth talk. What are you doing here?" Andros questioned, glancing over the large house as his knights entered to investigate.

Silence fell until shouts from within broke it.

"Commander, we've found four bodies inside—likely the village head and his family. There's a message on the wall signed 'Grayson,' and an unclaimed fortune in gold!"

With the report, Andros lifted his visor, locking his steely gaze on Grayson. "How will you explain this?"

"So the old man was the village head," Grayson mused silently, his smile now provocative. "Would you believe me if I cried innocence now, commander?"

The knights bristled at his demeanor, but Andros remained calm, dismounting and facing Grayson with determination. "Innocent or not, you're coming with me today!"

"You're taking me to see the Holy Emperor, then? Not sure he'd be pleased, but if I see him, I'll be sure to massage his legs... like this."

Grayson stepped towards Andros' steed, feigning casualness before suddenly kicking the horse's knee. The metal-clad joint gave way, sending Andros tumbling down.

Mid-fall, Andros executed an aerial somersault, unsheathing a nearly two-meter lance that glinted menacingly.

As he touched down, he flung the lance tip towards Grayson's back. In the nick of time, Grayson spun to face the assault, Elyra perched on his hand, directly in the path of the incoming weapon.

The lance stopped mere inches from Elyra, her eyes' light halting its deadly momentum, leaving it suspended mid-air.

"Meanie, bully, how dare you!" Elyra turned and pouted, scolding Grayson before hopping from his hand to his shoulder, tearing his sleeve with her talons.

"I was just lightening the mood with a bit of magic!"

Grayson raised his hands in surrender, smiling up at Elyra, still perched atop his head as she angrily tore at his hat, leaving visible gashes.

"I'm sorry, dear. No hard feelings," Grayson said, lighting another cigar. His hand rested on the gold hilt of his sword behind him. When he looked up again, a mischievous smile played on his lips, his eyes full of fighting spirit, which didn't go unnoticed by Andros.

"Let's get serious this time!"

With sword in hand, Grayson charged at Andros, who had recovered his lance. As Andros lunged, Grayson deftly dodged, seizing the shaft and thrusting his sword forward.

The knight countered coolly, flinging the detachable lance tip, using the momentum to backpedal away from Grayson's blade. The chain connecting the tip and shaft wrapped around Grayson's neck like a dragon's tail, tightening its grip.

"Grayson, you've got nowhere to run this time!" Andros yanked the shaft, straightening the chain and tightening it around Grayson's throat like the reaper's noose.