Planting his meat render firmly into the ground, Horgore looked down at the whimpering drake.

“I have a soft spot for you green ones,” he voiced, the words true, though not in the way the drake suspected.  

“So, let’s make a deal.”

Crying softly as it let out laborious breaths, the defeated beast looked up at him.

“I’ll let you live.” The lone bestial eye widened with hope. “If you hand over your hoard.” The hope flickered out from its eye, and was momentarily replaced with fury. But that too died as he leaned forward, and his blade glowed brighter.

“I have no-

“Careful little drake,” he said over its blatant lie. “Me and my blade can make you suffer for a very long time, and I have plenty to waste.” He laughed. “Got nothing else to do, and I know you have a hoard. A beast like you doesn’t get this large without some gold.”

The Drakes breaths quickened, and tears filled its eye. “Please not my hoard, I can serve, pay off this debt.”

Horgore showed his fangs and flared his might. The burning wounds on the beast hissed and the Drake cried out. “I want gold, not favors.”

The Drake wailed, and it wasn’t over the biting wounds.

“What’s your answer!” He yelled, his power increasing, and blade eager to taste the drake’s flesh again.

The Drake began to shrink in size, causing Horgore to smile. “I accept,” the beast said, its voice filled with anguish.

“Good,” he spoke pleased, greens were always the easiest to bargain with. It was why he spent more time hunting them than any of the other colors. “Lead the way, once my hoard is in my hands, you’ll be free to go.” He lessoned the bite of his power, allowing the Drake’s wounds to slowly mend, but only enough that it could walk.

“Of course,” the drake said, voice hollow, and its head hanging low as it slowly guided him to its lair.