Far to the west-north-west, among barren peaks, a shadow entered a cave at the base of a cold, lonely mountain. His magic defeated traps and guard-beasts, as he made his way slowly but surely toward the mountain’s heart, and the lair contained within.

The stranger knew his presence was detected by the wards along the walls. Therefore, it came as no surprise, when he walked into the inner sanctum of the hoard chamber, to be greeted by the mighty Felldrake, looking right at him.

Glancing to the side, he eyed a pile of ashes that had once been a spectacular suit of armor, inlaid with platinum and precious stones. Now the only hint of its former glory lay in the twinkling of a few gems around the blackened stumps of the boots.

“So upset, we’re destroying our own treasures, are we?” his skeletal mouth asked.

“As soon as my wards showed me the odd aura trespassing in my domain, I knew it was you, husk,” Felldrake grated in response. “And what do you know about treasure? Your undead form holds great magic, but you’ll be never be able to enjoy true pleasure ever again.”

“Is that supposed to be an insult?” Maguleth asked, with empty sockets pointed up at the dragon, and a fleshless face forming words as easily as a living body.

“What do you want?” Felldrake slowly growled.

“I come with an offer, great fire-wyrm.” Maguleth confidently answered. “One of mutual benefit.”

His bony grin nearly smacked together as he spoke, as if he was consuming a juicy leg of lamb.

“Take your traps and leave, abomination. There’s nothing for you here.”

“Oh, but I have something for you.”

“Something for me?! Like the treasure among those vermin, which you used my good help to locate?”

“My treasure whose nature you have discovered, and now want for yourself.”

Felldrake gave a deep, resonating growl, causing the solid rock floor under Magulth’s feet to vibrate.

“Save your breath, not that you have any.”

“Now, don’t be so –“

He did not get to finish, as Felldrake suddenly loosed his fire upon him. The flame’s roar rushed through the cavern, and the air shimmered with the heat and burning vapors.

But Felldrake saw the flames turning, and flowing around the spot where Maguleth stood. The lich had prepared well before coming here. Felldrake ceased his attack.

Maguleth, his clothes, and the three-foot diameter spot of the floor on which he stood, were untouched; whereas the rest of the rocky floor outside that circle was blackened and simmering. Waves of hot air rising from the charred surfaces wafted the foul smoke to and fro, creating breezes of wispy tendrils throughout the chamber.

“Do you feel better now?” he asked, as if the attack was not worth becoming upset over. “Lash out as often as you like. It won’t get you what you want.”

“Nor what you want,” Felldrake replied. “You desire is as insignificant as your height.

“You have no idea where the Blood of Wintermore is right now,” he added with malicious delight.

“Try not to underestimate smaller creatures,” Maguleth smoothly replied. “My spy coming ashore in Khostead will send me word of his location soon enough.”

He pulled from under his robes a roll of sheets of leather, which he laid flat on a large adjacent stone. He pulled back the top layer to reveal a near-transparent sheet underneath, like a dragon’s wing-membrane.

“With a spell of transmutation,” he said, holding up a capped scroll-tube, “you will walk in human form in the Coastals’ territory. You’ll cast the curses on these scrolls with these membranes wrapped around your body, gaining the key to overcome the protective wards, and allow me to set foot on Coastal soil.”

“You’ve put a lot of planning into this, only to come to failure, wizard. What makes you think I’d help you take my prize?”

“The Blood of Wintermore belongs to me, dragon. Your bounty lies with something more personal.”

With a snort of response, Felldrake raised his head up and back, as if preparing for a bite-attack.

“Then what is my prize, creature?”

Raising his right hand, with bony fingertips poised like claws, Maguleth’s empty sockets glowed like pits of red wrath. “Revenge!” he hissed.