Kongensvik

Uma would have followed the rest of the trolls underground, until she realised that Inka wasn't following. The girl tugged gently on Inka's hand... her own trembling at the sight of Mahi'onn now that he was closer... nor would she realise he was a Dragerørt. Those were tales and myths, nothing like she had ever encountered...

"We must go," she said, her voice barely a whisper as she wrapped her arm around Inka's tugging her as she tried to move the old woman towards the tunnels that led underground. The girl would be a lot more frightened if it wasn't for Inka's calm nature.

Inka continued to watch the unfolding scene as if spellbound by it, looking from dragon to troll and troll to dragon. She was still as placid as a frozen lake but her floppy ears were low. While the young trolls outnumbered Mahi and his dragon, the Dragerørt had many more years of experience, both as a warrior and a rider, and his very nature meant his bond to his dragon was especially deep ... which might be his undoing. If one suffered, the other might be crippled by it as well.

Uma's insistent hand went ignored. "Just a moment, child," she finally said. "Just a moment, and we will retreat."

Knuterot, she thought, trying to get the young dragon's attention. Knuterot! Use their bond against them!

Hopefully he heard her. She allowed herself to be pulled away by Uma, following the girl to the dark tunnels. They were lit by one or two torches from the bonfire but for the most part were dark. Families huddled together for moral support, and somewhere a child even younger than Uma was crying. Inka stood in a pool of torchlight and raised her staff. "Fear not, brave settlers. Fate has decided to test our young leader's resolve. Spirits of blood, power, and fire have marked him as a true ruler, a king in the rough, an unpolished diamond. He will emerge victorious!"

Ganuu'd been called out! That certainly wouldn't do - almost as a reflex, the other dragon-bonded took several steps forward, lanky and slow, to flank Ganuu'bit visibly. Though notably his weapon - a weathered shortsword produced with a sharper's reflexes yet still held at his side - was decidedly, perhaps notably, mundane.

Still, the tacit move of support for Ganuu'bit was clear, as was Arruk's ultimate and somewhat tense deference to the younger fellow: if the Dragerørt made any funny moves, it was two against one. Or, rather, four against two, scrappy and untrained his own side appeared.

While Arruk remained fixed in that spot, with a stare unblinking and hard mirrored in his dragon's own acidic twin fires, above, Ylvarød had no such compunctions.

While she yet the command to hold was heeded, she didn't technically advance, threaten, attack or back off; rather she ventured a prowl, beginning to slink and curl around the scene, eyes vivid and rapt upon the strange and draconic intruder. Perhaps the timing was coincidental, perhaps it was acting upon a silent cue from her rider, but it appeared quite in sync with Ganuu's remark about the pair leaving alive.

It was a move demonstrative as much as it was animated with raw emotion (mainly drawn from the wellspring of her rider's feelings about Baalrag’uut's men, for lack of her own memories) - as what good was a patrol when the beasts had the skies, themselves? - but it was a rather pointed show, nonetheless, her tail's anxious whipping betraying how terse she truly was, breath yet slipping with slick sibilance through ferociously bared teeth.

Mahi'onn seemed less threatened than severely agitated. While his guard was still up and he tried to watch the slinking dragon out of the corner of one eye, it was clear he was distracted by turbulent thoughts.

It was clear his anger was building as he prepared to respond with scathing mockery at such an empty threat, but then the shaman spoke - lowering his defenses and freezing in place, he looked between her and the boy king with such sharpness that his neck cracked. The “what” through grit tusks that followed was almost comical, surprise abruptly cutting off the glow of his markings.

What had been a plan to take the prince for leverage against the king fell apart in an instant.

This changes everything.

As if this news was equally surprising to her, the dragon above let out a funny grumble of bewilderment. Yet she was not so distracted that she was complacent with the young female circling below. With teeth bared she snarled protectively.

DO NOT INTERFERE, HATCHLING. NO HARM NEED COME TO YOU.

Mahi'onn continued to stew in agitation, sword still held between himself and the bonded pairs, but slowly dropping.

Impossible. How can this be?

Easily. It means we were wrong.

It was in an entire different way that he stared at Ganuu'bit now, nearly reflecting his awe as bewilderment consumed him. Mahi'onn keenly felt the hatred written on the face of Arruk in that moment - for just a second, he met that acid with wilting guilt.

This was certainly an upsetting revelation. If a new line of kings had been chosen by ceremony, not only must the former be gone, but it meant Korgmak’tun had not taken his throne by right of might. It had meant that a new line had been fated all along - but did that mean this boy was intended to...?

Now what? A destructive battle with unnecessary causalities had not been in the plan; fighting to escape with their lives would be nothing but counterproductive and wasteful. Not that he wouldn't do it if he had to - but maybe he didn't have to.

It might have been noted that it was a curious thing he had made such a dramatic appearance - if he was looking to merely find them after all, surely he could have already been on his way back by now with none the wiser. If he had come to wreak destruction, he was doing a remarkably poor job with the exception of Inka's dinner.

“So. Buutar’rag is dead and the spirits have chosen you as the next lineage. What maddening games they play,” he rumbled in almost monotone disbelief. Mahi visibly deflated as uncertainty took over his features. It was clear he was no longer dedicated to whatever he had been doing. There was no longer any pacing or posturing. What had been melodramatic intimidation tactics suddenly shifted into an attempt to keep their attention as he straightened back up.

What do you want, Mahi'onn?

What I have always wanted - that has never changed.

Then we must change current and adapt, like we always do.

“You are lucky I do not know Inka to be a liar. I think we both know what would happen in a fight between us. Yet you stand in my way regardless..."

Mahi'onn peered at him with almost approving scrutiny, but it was quickly swept back up into frustration. A sour annoyance replaced it.

"You're brave, but foolish - consider the loss of you and your dragon,” he scolded of all things. However, try as he might to keep face in this tense moment, his expression broke again as he turned towards Inka with an exasperated gesture and boggled eyes. If he hadn't been such a toothy creature, he may have even scowled childishly. The thick scimitar was jabbed again in careless point towards Ganuu’bit, as if to say 'this one, right here?'

“TRULY?”

Ganuu's brows lifted and eyes widened slightly as the mans markings went dull so suddenly. His stance didn't lower, not for one moment.

"Better I die protecting my people, than leave them to you. If I am foolish for this, then we (meaning he and his dragon) will gladly die a fool prince! A fool would believe that Korgmak'tun would lay down his life for his people! None of us here are so foolish. What of *YOU*?" he boomed loudly with utmost conviction, causing a bit of a silence among the muttering trolls in the trees. It was the first Ganuu'bit had spoken as a leader might, at least, in front of them. In fact, the first time they'd seen him show any mettle at all. Perhaps the young prince was only now realizing how important these people were to him, and what a responsibility he had to protect them.

"A true king is loyal to his people, Korgmak is loyal only to himself. Our king lies slain and the self-proclaimed king lays waste to all we held dear. Our prince DIED bringing us to a new land, to safety."

He didn't know why Knuterot left his side to start slinking (or rather, just walking boldly) around Mahi the opposite direction to the female. The dragon did not relay Inka's suggestions to him, he just decided to act on it of his own volition.

Ganuubit bared his teeth as Mahi turned to Inka instead, stepping forward, ready to stop him in any way he could if he had to. What he wasn't prepared for was his dragon's brash actions. It was out of the blue. Knuterot lunged, like a coiled snake his head shot forward and his teeth tried to come down on Mahi's head and his shoulders in one foul swoop.

Ganuu'bit's eyes widened and he raised the sword and his hand "KNUTE! STOP! HALT!" he bellowed to the dragon, not even bothering with their mental connection, he was so shocked. Mahi hadn't engaged, in fact, he'd seemed ready to talk about this. At least it would be better than killing him. He was horrified, furious with his dragon. Knute had his eye on the prize, he wanted Mahi dead and in turn, his dragon.

Uma followed Inka down to the tunnels, staying as close to the old woman as she could. Her ears swiveled some as she listened to the woman proclaim her faith in Ganuu'bit.

She was but a child, what could she do but listen to her elders? Her father had always taught her that. The young orphan reached for Inka's arm silently, more for comfort than anything as she caught bits and pieces of the shouting above.

Mahi'onn actually rolled his eyes - but somehow he seemed pleased, a strained grin of sorts forming as the absurd truth of the situation hit him. While his frustration would remain in ample supply for some time, it was beginning to temper. Unfortunately for Knuterot, he had just offered himself as a target for him to take some of that frustration out on. Mahi'onn had been well aware of him as he listened, even without the advantage of the dragon above - blind spot or not, a seasoned warrior was not senseless to an enormous animal trying to come up from behind.

It seemed talking would have to wait.

With surprisingly dexterity and as if he had eyes in the back of his head, the oversized troll twisted to the side and leapt backward, narrowly escaping the loss of his head. Oh, what a brat! In the action he dropped his sword and wasted no time, reeling as he landed - the brute twisted in the opposite direction, using that momentum with all the intention of delivering a right hook directly on the side of Knute's snout.

“DO YOU MIND?”

Who was crazy enough to punch a dragon?!

The shaman continued deeper into the tunnels with the other civilians, beyond the reach of the voices of the trolls above. But proof of their tense confrontation was not all lost. The earth above them shook whenever the dragons shifted, even with Knuterot's attempt to sneak up on the huge warrior, and Inka could feel the intensity of their emotions like a hot haze.

Uma's hands on her arm made the shaman look away from the ceiling at long last. Normally she was not a very comforting she-troll, even with children--she didn't think coddling did them any favors, even in dire situations. But now she gave Uma's hand a gentle pat-pat. "Help me to that stone here, girl," she said, pointing. There was very little light down in the tunnels--someone had the foresight to bring a couple brands from the bonfire, providing the only light other than the occasional of frightened trollish markings.

'Hatchling?!' Ylvarød snorted indignantly, but otherwise continued her prowl, bolstered in her flaunting now that the great brown fellow joined her.

But among the trolls, the lanky Arruk'tul hardly softened or as the towering stranger did; rather he only appeared to tense more, as if suspecting a trap - and the casually incredulous attitude towards Ganuu didn't help matters, the waving-about of the scimitar only putting him even more on-edge.

An even-toned, almost growling purr followed - the first the fellow had properly spoken, restraint evident in how even it had been. "You've already been surprised, once, placed a bet on a falsehood. You are two, surrounded by four. What is your way, now-?!" was abruptly cut off.

As the other dragon suddenly moved, Ylva let fly with a startled screech in Knute's direction - she'd hadn't expected him to pounce so much as accompany her intimidation! And that screech took on a new, higher, utterly incredulous tone and pitch even in the same breath as the stranger spun about to whack Knuterot on the snout.

She felt rather than saw Arruk'tul draw his short-sword with a flare of furiously startled acidic markings, though she herself froze, mouth curled upward in a hissing, pantomime smile. But the fact that it was simply a bop and not a chop seemed to give the great red beast some pause (as well as Arruk somewhat ashamedly lowering that weapon with a bit of a grumbling cough and a shrug), and when she spoke again, she spoke not to Arruk, but to the strange dragon.

Who does Yours think he is, trespasser?! Knute deserved it, yeah. But nobody wailed on Knute unless she'd allowed it! She still held, though shifted weight from side to side, claws grasping at and tearing small furrows in the ground, due to the restraint of her rider - and no small wariness of getting desert dragon teeth in her neck. (Or punched by a Dragerørt, though she'd hardly admit it!) Her thoughts yet roiled with impatience. Mine is convinced he knows Yours. Why does he pause so?!

Knuterot was no lightfooted feline, either. He was a young and unexperienced dragon, much like his bonded leader. As soon as the punch struck the dragon a most curious thing occured. Though often dragons could share their sensation with their riders it often wasn't a constant thing, nor was it as intense, but Ganuu staggered as the dragon was struck and both, in rather perfect unison, raised their heads and let out a bellowing roar. Ganuu's markings rippled brightly with amber light as did his eyes, AS did Knute's gem and eyes in unison.

As the troll calmed from that odd and powerful connection he bared his teeth and shot a glare to Knute. 'Back away or you're putting us all in danger.' he warned his dragon. He looked to Arruk and held up a hand as if to say he should hold back, just in case. He saw how coiled the female dragon was.

"Why aren't you attacking?" he asked the beastly Dragerort, Was his nose bleeding? yes, a little blood trickled from Ganuu's nostril but little more. "What now?" he asked him pointedly, it was plain to see Mahi was given pause by the situation and Ganuu was finding it hard to place his intentions.

---

Many trolls fled past Uma and Inka, others walked. "That little boy is going to get himself and all of us killed, we should go back up there and FIGHT along side the warriors! Bring that traitor and his dragon to the ground" one woman demanded to her husband and the man shook his head "But the baby... please, you need to get to safety." one might assume the woman was pregnant.

Another older troll hobbled along, an old man known ...only for his interest in the ladies, despite his great age...a testament that many years alive did not always mean one 'grew up'. He let out a wheezy chuckle and winked at Inka on the way past, then hobbled along much faster to avoid her wrath. "Ehehehehhhh"

Raseri was tired of clinging to the bark and decided it was time to come down - with all the grace of a feline stuck in a tree she awkwardly lowered herself to a height she felt was conductive to a drop. Now she had all the finesse of a hefty cat leaping down from a surface; that is to say none at all until all four feet were planted on the ground and she could behave as though her form had been perfect (it hadn't). She posed proudly as such, but made no indication that she felt threatened in any way.

'A desperate leader in search of options. We had a plan, but...

...it is no longer a good plan. We find ourselves mistaken.'

She gave just enough of a pause before ending with a decisive '...hatchling'.

Mahi rebounded from his own strike and staggered back - he seemed satisfied as the bonded pair followed suit and briefly wondered how many knocks either of them had ever taken.

“What now...?”

It seemed to be the question of the moment. It was considered seriously, but the warrior did not retrieve his sword. Instead he placed hands at his hips, observing the four as he murmured in uncertainty. A great shake of his crested head was given as he burst into incredulous laughter. Knute was especially given an appraising eye.

Oh, the gall of this one! This proud creature and his bonded, both brash and bold, faced with sure loss and yet honorable enough to make a sacrifice for the greater good.

“GOOD,” he suddenly roared in approval at Ganuu'bit. “So be it. Yes – yes, I suppose you'll do," he stated mysteriously, making to cross his arms and stare them down now. “I would appeal to bargain for my life then, young king.”

Uma would assist Inka up onto the stone. She remained quiet throughout, eying the rest. She was still getting familiar with everyone and in all honesty, she was terrified. She wanted her father, but she knew she was on her own. The troll-child bit her lip as she glanced at the moving trolls. Even in the crowd she felt alone... but she was thankful that Inka provided some form of comfort for the lass... despite that lewd fellow going past.

Uma shot a glare at him that could kill.

"Ganuu'bit will be all right won't he?" she asked quietly, although whether her voice could be heard over the din was another matter.

Inka creaked her way over to the stone, pausing only to aim a very harsh pinch at the winking troll's backside--whether she was quick enough or not was entirely another matter! With a groan, and a bit of help from Uma, the old shaman eased herself down on the stone and listened.

Here and there came a roar or a thump from above, or a shuffling of heavy paws on the sand that dislodged grit from the ceiling. Down here the tunnels echoed with nervous whispers and some loud proclamations, but up there ... it seemed quiet, mostly. Certainly not like a six-way brawl between dragons and warriors.

"Listen," she called, trying to raise her voice, though she didn't stand. "Listen. What do you hear?" She fixed her ice blue eyes upon Uma. "Not very much, hmm? Our leader is not fighting tooth and nail, no. He is not having sword-words. Instead, he negotiates. You--" She pointed her staff at the troll who said they should storm the beach. "--are you so foolish that you have a problem with this? That you would rather see death and destruction where there could be peace? Are you so foolish?"

Ylva winced at Raseri's answer in spite of her hard stare, rather unfortunately presenting an impression that looked a bit more constipated than properly intimidating (and very much like the hatchling the strange dragon on which the strange dragon insisted)! She saaaaaaat slowly, reluctantly, still staring.

You left them. The words were obvious - of course this lone pair left the mad king, they were here, were they not? - but the intonation, the way her thought tumbled forth implied far, far more. Whatever mine remembers, you left them. Her stare was still angry, still suspicious, downright petulant in the restraint with which her bonded insisted she'd abide - but there was something curious about it, now, and she tilted her head slightly almost in spite of herself. Whatever your options now, you cannot return.

Meanwhile, it was her bonded's turn to be ineloquent!

"What." Arruk finally managed rather lamely, once the Dragerørt sat and appeared to puzzle his way into a rather unexpected demand. While the short-sword was lowered, he did not go as far to sheathe it, outright. Though Arruk's posture and carriage as well as his insistence on being the young Ganuu'bit's lanky and mean-looking shadow that - trap or no trap - there was one answer to the laughing, crested warrior's bargaining chip!