The Dragon's Cry

"Come," the silver woman says suddenly. "See the consequences of your inaction." She leads you in the direction toward which the soldier and the girl were running. Dread starts gnawing in the pit of your stomach. You hear a scream, and a dull crunch, and then you hear the rustling of leaves as someone runs of...

And then you see it. The body of a little girl, blood dripping from the side of her head and smeared against a nearby rock. You realize with a shock that this was the very same girl who had been playing music in your family's inn just yesterday... her fingers still clutch at the flute, while her belt is torn as if something had been ripped from it.

Robbery, you think. The money she earned last night... and I let her d...

Suddenly you turn on the silver woman. "YOU KNEW!" you shout. "YOU KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO DIE! And you stood there and did NOTHING!"

"As did you," she says. "A helpless lass, pursued by an armed and armored soldier, and you stood by. Why?"

"I thought... you..."

"The township of Rhee needs a hero, dragonling. Too often have you fled when by all rights you should have fought. Could you not have easily overpowered him?"

"He could have had backup!"

"So he could. But a cause such as ours is not won by taking the easy course."

"WHAT CAUSE?! I just want to find my mother and get the bastards who killed my father!"

"I see I have misjudged you. I had thought you would work with us. But your vision is too limited. You see only yourself, and not the larger issues at stake. The kingdom is in danger. And if this kingdom falls, others will soon follow. The Shadow will spread across the land. And you will have stood by and done nothing, just as you let this poor girl die."

You stare at the woman with realization. She let that girl die to teach me a lesson!
Do you really want to be on her side?

"Rhee needs a hero. Will you come with me and risk your life, or will you stay here where you can be safe?"

You begin to wonder...

"Safe, that is, for now."

Will you...

• Become a hero?
• Save your own neck?

Things to consider while writing in this branch

1. Silvera spoke of another. Who?
2. The little girl is one of the Children of the Ring (but Shree doesn't notice that right now).
3. What part does Shadow play in this?
4. What was the connection between Silvera and Shree's father?
5. Notice that Silvera isn't exactly the nicest person in the world.
6. Remember that Shree doesn't know Silvera's name or background yet.

• View your choices

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