Defiance was carried through crumbling caves and the screams of the Frostsong. Its bearer was Reila’Karan. One of plenty of brothers and sisters. A girl of the forge, by chance and good will. She did her duty and to her, that was not to die. It was to live and finish her quest. The sword needed to get cast right into the Dragon’s skull. There was no thought in her if she could do it herself or not. But Defiance felt she would try if she got the chance. Though she wouldn’t jump to her death like so many others. She would find a way to live. To strike and win. Not as equal warriors to her enemy, but as the clear victor. To her that was the only acceptable victory.

  Defiance burned bright with the thought and was fueled by the flames of fury in her heart.

  While she ran through the tunnels, families of elders and the young were running out of the collapsing caves. The Dragon’s roar and song had trembled the earth enough that so much of the mountain gave in. Outside it caused lightning and avalanches and the Khan, the man that would be remembered as the snake, fought the dragon. One strike after the other.

  Defiance was born like a Khan’s weapon. Through shaman song and the drum of the forge. Runes were cast in both and they were casted of the same ore.

  And yet defiance was more. It had been adored by the Frostsong alone and carried the very soul of their clan. Meanwhile the Khan’s blade had runes of all the north edged into its hilt. Both carried runes of fire and both commanded more than just a sharp edge.

  Defiance was a blade of the land, of fire, the ancestors and of hatred. It would wield them all into battle while the Khan’s blade carried the runes of the clan’s. For he was meant to carry them. Both on his shoulders and to victory. And yet he fought alone.

  Reila had to jump to the side as the ground above her crumbled. Just in time she reached the grand centre cave. The part that made the mountain hollow. She huffed and breathed and looked up the long winded tunnel. All the way up to the windhall. It was still a long way and who knew what paths she could still use. But there was no turning back, no way to retreat or to back down. Just to roar, stand up, and move on.

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  Defiance liked the girl of the forge. And while the drums in her heart sang to her long run and climb, it drummed in unison. While she ran, other warriors still threw their spears at the Dragon whenever it came close. Few still jumped and most aided the young and the elders to safety. The Khan gave them the time.

  Her face was soon covered in the dust of stone, after so much had collapsed around her. Breathing became hard and her way longer the further they went up. But she did not stop. She jumped out of the way of stones and ran on. She climbed where there was no other path, only to stumble ahead.

  The closer they came to the top, the more defiance could feel its brother. It was eager to feel its swing, be it as brothers or enemies. And it knew, both would be the case.

  Finally and with her last breath she reached the windhall at the top of the mountain. The open entrance to the west went straight to the peaks where the dragon sang at the other edge of the valley. Her eyes blurred, as her body had been tested by the path up here and she was about to close them when instead she roared. She punched the ground and bloodied her hand and while leaning on the far too big blade stood up once more.

  Defiance liked her. There was no one else here and she spat to the side. Bracing herself for the dragon’s next attack. She would do it. She was no warrior, but what else to do? And she would not jump to her death. She would strike to win. So she tried to tell herself and yet the doubts crept in. Now that she had time to breathe they tore at her resolve. The beast was too big, too powerful and she was far from a warrior.

  Defiance glared in disappointment and her hand burned through the pelt on its grib. She snarled and tried to get herself ready again. She closed her eyes and thought about those that would be lost if the Dragon was not beaten. Her many brothers and sisters. Her teacher, the grand smith, and even the boy who shared the forge with her. They would be gone.

  The battle outside took a turn she didn’t see. Yet she felt a song echo through the earth and into the blade. The Runes on Defiance started to glow, yet she kept her eyes closed.

  And finally a Wyvern crashed into the hall behind her.

  She turned around and saw it wasn’t the Khan’s, not even a red one of those many riders. But a big beast from the ashen dunes.