"Never is there such peace then just before death unseats to loom for the opportune time to strike and call in it its allies to abide it's costly decide."

The dawning of a new day is underway The busy Chaco port is quite an assort of cargo awaiting deport to other nations of all sorts Busy craftsmen in their shops allot an early morning wake to greet the new day by getting underway with their chosen trade The smithy forge though quite large is still overworked making nails for all of Chaco's crates awaiting shipment to get underway The school bell rings as it sings to the little ones who run to abate from being late to negate their teachers inevitable berate

Marco can be seen leading a meeting proceeding the christening of a new ship that sits in the harbor It has been hatched and built from scratch with Chaco's large cache of timber
The glimmer of water's wake breaking onto its bow make it shake back and forth while lying in wait for its maiden voyage to get underway

A distant sound is heard quite aloud brought in by the strong Northern winds A conch horn resounds now becoming soo loud that one cannot drown it out Marco recognizes it as Draconian source but it's only used in time of war he quickly thinks "Is this a farce?"
He goes to the window to see a frightening sight Fire breathing dragons filling up the skies biding death to come forth with the sight of their slotted eyes

His immediate fright does incite him to turn and yell to greet Chaco's counsel meet "War!!" "The Dracos are at our door!" "Rouse Chaco's brigade get them underway!" Everyone scurries quite in a hurry to get Chaco's defenses in place to keep the Draco at bey

The dragons strafe the port exhaling fiery breath without relent bent on destruction of every ship to tighten their grip making seaward escape too late thus sealing Chaco's fate
Sailors and fisherman can be heard screaming in pain as dragons fire consumes them to their final lain

Marco is aghast at hearing his people's last cries and runs to join the Chaco auxiliary to prop up the artillery
As he heads into a rapid stride he does internally confide in his own mind
"How did they reignite the fires from within the dragons they sire?" "I thought them too foregone and had drawn their last as circumstance?"
Just then everyone begins to stare into the air as catapults shoot without fault massive boulders set ablaze causing a haze as they roar soaring towards scores of the town's stores
Igniting fires each one mires a massive surprise hidden inside Filled with an explosive powder their loads violently explode to smash Chaco's homes back into rough stone from whence they were first honed
Marco is nearly missed by a tall chimney that swiftly falls while remnants of shattered walls are heaped upon his person He is certain that the Draco had no explosive loads before this tryst and he wonders who is giving them an assist

Chaco's artillery finally gets underway keeping the Draco at bey But their hold precarious as it may is only temporary
Marco knows they are out-gunned seven to one and cannot hold the line without more time to prepare to escape the Draco's snare
"Wait!" time indeed, he does think Marco conceived Taurine could possibly help with one of her spells
He leapt on his horse and immediately set course for her home in the mountain hold where they keep their excess gold

When he arrives he finds all of his assigned guards have left the yard to fight on the front line against the Draco maligned Only Taurine is left to prevent theft of their gold He enters the hold and asks without relent

Marco: "Taurine, can you assist with the tryst the Draco entered us in?"

Taurine: "My king." "A spell of that make would take a host to post his soul for the enchant to supplant its power." "To twist time on just one soul can take its toll from the one that projects such unchecked power." "Look at my outer hull blackened and decayed like coal from time's misuse." "But to use it on an entire regiment would cause imminent danger to any resident that stepped in no matter the strength of their skin."

Marco: "I will stand in for my kin and I care not about the color of my skin if only to prevent further death at the Draco's behest."

Taurine: "But who will lead to impede the Dracos from proceeding?"

Marco: "My daughter will accede in my stead." "I have prepared her for this day." "Success always brings enemies so I prepared my legacy for this eventuality." "Princess Lilly will proceed to lead the Chaco."

Taurine looks over at Marco's mirror she had made to gift him on his birthday and then she did say "I have an idea to convey." "If you can cross into the portal before your mortal soul is permanently paroled you might stand a chance to live another day." "You may be restored to the former lord you were afforded to in that day."

Marco: "You mean be cast to the distant past to live to my to last day?" "If that is to be my fate I am ok with this dictate."

Taurine: "The Draco's force is too large of course for me to stop all of them at once." "But if you allow I can wield a time shield around this hold and protect the people inside." "Go get the Chaco and bring them in."

So Marco rode as fast as his horse would dash into the battlefront and quite bluntly yelled aloud "Everyone evacuate to the coffer it will offer protection against the Draco's subjection!" Marco then rode to where his Princess Lilly was being stowed and enrolled her into the plan that was about to unfold When they arrived back at the stronghold she consoled

Lilly: "Father, is this sound advice for you to make a sacrifice at such high a price of your life?"

Marco: "There is no other way the Chaco won't live but a few more days." "The survivors will waste away into Draco slavery." "The title of King would be unbefitting for me if I couldn't sacrifice my life to keep Chaco's strife away."

So Taurine begrudgingly convened to allow the Chaco into her scene It was quite cramped having them camped but it was only about half of the artisan class that sat betwixt the gold the rest had to stay to keep the Draco at bey A wounded guard rushes in and yells "We were overthrown by their explosive artillery stones!" "The Draco aren't far away so I suggest you pray to the Gods you claim!"

Taurine: "Marco!!" "Now is the time before they climb the outer walls make the call!!!"

Marco kisses his daughter's head and then he says "I'm ready!"

Taurine can be observed moving her magical staff in a curve receiving power from the ether It flows through her being just seeing it glow and flow through her body would make one know this was power bestow from the Gods own The very sight would fright one to the bone This was not meant for mortal men but Marco was about to meet it's fury quite in a hurry for time spells had no place for human beings

She pointed her staff and opened up without relent Marco immediately screams in pain
Lilly was aghast at hearing her father broadcast what could be very well his last

She screams to Taurine to terminate her fathers participate

Lilly: "He is in pain stop!" "This is insane!"

Marco states while quite writhing in pain "Take light this is the only way to live another day not as slave cease your raves and be brave."

An orange glow envelopes Marco he can be seen quickly progressing in age 30, 40, 50..... But, as he sees the glow the magic bestow he does realize he has spied this in his bride many years before the night she took ill A chill fills his soul as he slowly realizes Taurine stole life from his Queen

By now Marco is over 90 years old and about to expire his internal fire he is too weak to barely speak but he does finally find strength to shriek "You!" "You killed my Queen!"

Taurine is aghast Marco on his last knows she caused his bride to pass Without remorse she stays the course she endorsed To prevent any further quandary into her tricks she promptly slings the King into her magic cast mirror and Chaco's distant past

Then, a powerful beam streams from her spear high into the atmosphere to make a magic dome appear in the sky high above the hold and all full of Chacos precious gold

Lilly cries "Where did you send father?" "Don't pretend to act as friend I heard his word before his time transfer occurred!"

Taurine: "My, my, my." "You look just like your mother." "Why the belittle my little kit?" "Just take a sit to cool your quips." "He was sent to another time in the distant past to last the rest of his blessed days unoppressed by the stresses of King."

Lilly: "Ill beast cease your pleasantries!" "Did you kill my mother?"

Taurine: "I hatched a scheme to dispatch the Queen from the Chaco's scene." "Your exist went missed it was quite a twist when Marco showed he had sowed."

Lilly: "So it is true you are the undue of my family." "Well, as far as I'm concerned since you have turned you can rot in this hold until I am old." "Say goodbye to daylight you will never leave the mounds of Chacos bounds."

Taurine: "You dare ensnare me in this lair!" "How is this fair?"

Lilly: "You dare to speak of fair!" "Nary concern I have for your yearn." "My mother deserved to live though she can't give you just do I won't forgive her take from the make of such an evil one." "Be of thanks that I only keep you in this bank and stay my hand from what justice rightly demands."

So Princess Lilly left the hold with the Chacos and fathers mirror en-tow and let darkness enfold Taurine by covering any window or hole that might let a little light through to console her restless soul



When the Draco arrive they spy an enormous force field with the Chaco sealed tightly inside
They derive to hit it with their dragons' fire but it doesn't expire and stands strongly mired despite their intense fiery breath Such farenheight from the fire they felt that day would smelt steel plate from whence it came but instead, they were dealt a defeat which made Khret overheat from his Draco leaders seat

He sounded the conch horn to launch an unbounded attack at the dome resisting them their persistent need to loot the Chacos proceeds
Giant boulders launched from catapult artillery are denied to get inside bouncing off as they collide with the magic field To unshield such a make would be more of an undertake than their simple minds could partake

Khret shouts a command for every man to lay his hand unrestrained with the aim of piercing the shield that lain in their way
But not a single Draco can pierce an inch past its glass-like cast so they amassed they must be outclassed by magic

Khret roams to the dome restless to spy a fissure to pry and sees Princess Lilly approach He then gloats and boasts about how easily they took down the town and how the Chaco crown now should be endowed to his place to stay in his good grace

Khret: "Where is Marco and why does he send this little lamb to stand in for his hand?"

Lilly: "Marco's hand notwithstanding has given me the rule for what is left of his life now sits as strife denying Draco our gold to hold." "For future reference, you will refer to me as Princess."

Khret: "Ha ha ha ha ha!" "A woman has no place to speak with me in that manner face to face."

As Lilly walked away Khret heard her say "Suit yourself but it looks to me like you were bested by a woman." "What a way to lose face one might never erase this disgrace."

Khret: "No woman will bring down my bloodline!" "You will soon be dealt with as you are knelt at my feet begging for mercy!"

Lilly just walked away in silence The years of guidance from her father taught her to stifle her word when absurd anger is concerned

This infuriates Khret cheating him of his winning fate He resorts to the sorts of behavior endorsed by all Draco alike He moans in a loud violent tone and beats his fists against the dome the receipt of silent Chaco tone may very well disown him from the Draco throne
© Peter Gunn