Bound by a Golden Curse

“Lord Sidayth.”

The ancient gold dragon opened his eyes and glanced in the direction the voice had come from. Only strangers called him ‘Lord.’

“Yes?”

“Tales of your generosity have reached far and wide and I’ve come to ask for aid.”

Sidayth raised his head, a handful of gold coins shifting under him as he looked for the visitor. There, outlined in the opening to his cave, was a young man. The threadbare clothes appeared to indicate desperate need, but there was something about the man that ran counter to that appearance. Instead of the humility those coming to him normally demonstrated this petitioner stood up straight and his blue eyes met Sidayth’s without looking away. All this indicated an attitude of arrogance and entitlement as well as extreme confidence—all the markings of a wizard. Still, he had aided wizards in the past, so that, of itself, was no reason to refuse.

He released a gentle breath of steam, activating the wards that would let him know if his guest was speaking truthfully or not. “State your request,” Sidayth said.

“My wife has been very ill and I used our savings in seeking help for her. Now, it is late in the season and in my concern for caring for my wife, I neglected other matters and we do not have the resources to make it through the winter. If you would grant me but a handful of coins, that should be enough to get us through the winter to the spring. By then, I’ll be able to go back to work and once again support my family.” He bowed his head and waited.

Sidayth saw the faint flash of silver from the wards. The man was lying. While he had never denied anyone, the stories that were spread said those who approached only out of greed would become victims of the dragon’s rage. The threat tended to keep the greedy and curious away.

He glanced around at his dwindling hoard. The remining coins and gems would fit into less than a handful of sacks. A small enough amount they could be carried away by a man with a single horse. Over the last few centuries, he had given away most of his treasure to those who were brave enough or desperate enough to seek him out. A lifetime of hoarding had led him to being the last of his kind. Now, the only thing left was to give away the rest of his hoard so he was able to pass through the veil into the Twilight.

“What is your name?” Sidayth finally asked.

“Rolduc, my lord.”

“And where do you come from?”

“The village of Eldras.”

Sidayth felt a tingling on his scales…magic. Rolduc was indeed a wizard.

“And what is your profession good Rolduc?”

“I am a carpenter, my lord.”

Sidayth studied Rolduc. Details previously missed became apparent—the threadbare clothes were not as worn as they initially appeared. Rips and tears were actually carefully placed cuts. Stains were freshly smeared mud. Worn not because of poverty but with the intent to deceive. Rolduc’s hands were uncalloused with no scars; they spoke to a life that had never done the work of a carpenter. Most telling was the covetous gleam in Rolduc’s eyes as they glanced around at the scattered coins and gems that remained of the once immense hoard. Too many lies and no true need.

“Very well.” The dragon raised his wings and looked down at Rolduc. “That is your third lie, wizard. While you may indeed be from Eldras; your name is not Rolduc, neither are you a carpenter nor are you in need of coin.” The dragon sensed the subtle workings of magic being summoned. Complex sigils and runes appeared, glowing with power, as the wizard drew on his magic. Sidayth flexed his claws and took a deep breath.

Rolduc raised his arms then brought them down quickly and a flash of light filled the cave. “You are correct Sidayth, however, I have had time to complete my spell.” He said when the light faded.

Sidayth closed his eyes and shook his head as a wave of dizziness and confusion threatened to overwhelm him. He inhaled deeply and released his flame, only to hear the wizard laughing. Something was wrong, he could feel magic tingling all over his body, covering him like a second set of scales. Binding him in some way. He opened his eyes. A large emerald blocked his view of the wizard. Had the wizard summoned it as a shield? The laughing continued and a shadow fell over Sidayth. He looked up to see the wizard towering over him. He glanced down and realized he was no bigger than one of the gold coins he had been lying on. He tried to take a step and found he was bound to the coin.

“Now dragon, I will take your entire hoard and you will help me to become the most powerful and wealthy man in the land.”

Sidayth growled and released a tiny puff of flame, but Rolduc only laughed as he placed the tiny dragon and the gold coin on a rock where he could watch as the wizard gathered what was left of the hoard into a sack that glowed with magical energies.

The wizard looked at the coin then laughed as he dropped it on the ground. “I leave you your last coin, dragon,” he said.

Sidayth flapped his wings trying desperately to fly, but the weight of the coin he was bound to was too much for him at his current size. He released another tiny flicker of flame as the wizard reached for him.

The wizard chuckled, then ran a finger over Sidayth’s head and gently down his back. “You will be my good luck charm,” Rolduc said as he picked the dragon up and held him in his hand. “You will make me wealthy and powerful.”