Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight

by Hayley Thomas

Dear Diary,

Over breakfast, Alistan shared some of what had been discussed during his nighttime flight with Cypria. Most of it revolved around her former rider—her companion from a time long past—and the lance he once wielded. The very same lance that had been stolen from the Cathedral right under our noses. She wanted it returned to its rightful resting place in her lair, where the tomb of her rider still lay. And, if Alistan could manage that, he’d not only earn her gratitude but also the right to the rider’s other possessions, including a magical saddle. The offer came with something far greater though—the chance to become her next companion. Alistan, of course, looked like he was about to burst with pride.

But the morning couldn’t stay light for long. With breakfast behind us, it was time to return to reality—and to the camp of the Black Knight. The final confrontation we’d all seen coming. The road there was silent, the weight of what was coming hanging heavy in the air. No detours. No delay. Just a straight, grim path west.

We approached the edge of the camp without any pretense of stealth. No games, no clever tricks. We simply announced our presence. The same pale mage from before emerged and, predictably, asked if we’d come to issue a challenge. We told them no—we were here to tell them to leave. The Black Knight had no place in these lands and was not welcome. They laughed, a dry, cruel sound, and sneered that the Black Knight did not recognize the Fenhunter’s authority.

And just like that, the last thread of diplomacy snapped. Words gave way to weapons. Steel was drawn, spells lit the air, and chaos erupted. The clash was brutal from the start, made worse by Alistan falling early in the fight. Then came the real threat—the Black Knight himself, flanked by a towering skeletal dragon, stepping into the fray like a grim herald of death. He wasted no time, conjuring a wall between us—Gael, Luke, and I—cutting us off from the others just as the battle turned from bad to worse.

Luckily for us, Cypria hadn’t flown off just yet. Instead, she descended from the sky like a thunderclap—fangs bared, claws tearing through the air—colliding with the skeletal dragon in a violent crash that shook the battlefield. Her sudden arrival, combined with my success in getting Alistan back on his feet, shifted the tide of the battle in our favor. The Black Knight, realizing he was outmatched as his last minions fell, mounted his undead steed and took to the skies, shouting that we should come to his keep if we wanted to finish this.

Looking back, we should’ve let him go. We’d done what we came to do—pushed him out of Lady Morethene’s domain. But, well… sometimes I act before I think. The thought that we could end this once and for all was too tempting. So I lashed out with my magic and dragged the skeletal dragon from the sky, anchoring it to the ground. With its flight cut off, it was forced to land, and the fight resumed. Alistan, now mounted atop Cypria like a hero out of legend, managed to knock the stolen lance from the Black Knight’s grip.

It was then that reason finally caught up with me. Liliana and Alistan were both badly wounded, and I realized the risk outweighed the reward. We had the lance. We had the victory. It was time to let him go. I released my spell, intending to end it there.

But it was already too late.

The Black Knight surged back into the air—and our group, driven by momentum and fury, chased him down with arrows and spells. Alistan followed on Cypria, and in a final clash of claw and fang, she struck the fatal blow just as Luke’s magic tore apart the undead dragon below.

It should have been a moment of triumph.

Instead, it became a nightmare.

As the Black Knight's shattered body crumbled midair, black magic burst from the fragments of his armor—lashing out like living shadow. The tendrils of energy wrapped around Cypria, binding her in their grip. Veins of darkness spread across her brilliant copper scales, and her strength seemed to drain away before our eyes. We barely had time to shout, to move, to act—before the dark energy pulled inward, vanishing into her body.

And then Cypria fell. Crashing to the ground like a dying star.

Her body shrank rapidly, scales fading and limbs contorting until, in place of the towering copper dragon, there lay the frail form of Galiene. I was at her side in an instant. She was breathing—barely. Shallow, uneven, but there. Her skin was deathly cold, and an unmistakable aura of corruption clung to her like a shadow. Whatever curse had been bound to the Black Knight now had its claws in her.

Desperation took over. I grabbed one of my brews from my pack and gently poured it past her lips. It was a shot in the dark, a hope more than a plan. But I had to try something.

And somehow, it worked. Not completely—but enough. The pallor faded slightly from her skin, and her breathing began to steady, growing deeper and more regular. The darkness didn’t retreat, but it seemed to stall, like a tide held at bay. Perhaps all I’d done was buy us time—but right now, time was everything.

We decided to stay where we were, setting up camp in the now-empty remnants of the Black Knight’s stronghold. Galiene needed rest. So did we. But as the fire was lit and some semblance of calm returned, the inevitable question arose: what now?
Gael was the first to voice concern—insisting we shouldn’t take Galiene to Latebra Velora. He was convinced Lady Morenthene wouldn’t take kindly to another dragon in her territory. And while I understood his caution, it grated on me. Time was slipping through our fingers, and one of the most ancient and powerful beings we knew of was barely a day’s journey away. Powerful enough, maybe, to save Galiene. And yet Gael would rather drag her across the wilds to Keralon on the chance someone there could help?

I might’ve snapped at him a little.

We had promised to return and report to Latebra Velora. We owed them that much. And even if they couldn’t help directly, as Luke was quick to point out, Lady Morenthene had the means to teleport us to Keralon instantly. That alone was reason enough to go. Even Gael, I think, realized the sense in it—though he never admitted it aloud.

So we would rest. And then we would go. Galiene’s life might well depend on it.

With that, the matter was settled. We would return to Latebra Velora, report to Lady Morenthene, and ask for her aid. There was no more time to waste. While some of us took the chance to rest, the rest of us combed through the remains of the camp, gathering what we could—supplies, documents, anything that might prove useful—and loading it onto a cart. Alistan had wrapped the body of the former Black Knight, his long lost brother, into a cloth to receive a proper burial. Then we set off, once more making our way back to the capital of the Fenhunter.

The road gave me too much time to think. About the battle. About Galiene. And, inevitably, about my own role in it all. I know I should’ve let the Black Knight retreat. That would’ve been the smarter move. We’d won. The mission was complete. But I can’t bring myself to feel guilt over what happened to Galiene.

Could it have been avoided? Maybe. But she made her choice. We didn’t call her to our side. We didn’t ask for her intervention. She came of her own will, and I’m grateful for it—she turned the tide, turned a desperate struggle into a solid victory. But I won’t bear the weight of her decision. We can’t. Everyone walks their own path, and hers brought her to that battlefield.

What we can do now is fight for her. Do everything in our power to undo what was done. To lift the curse. To save her life. That responsibility, I’ll take without hesitation. But not the blame.

That night, as we set up camp, Liliana and I took the watch together. I found solace in her nearness, the quiet way we held each other, whispering thoughts too heavy for daylight. There was peace in that. Reassurance. As long as we stand together—united, unwavering—there’s still hope. We haven’t lost this fight yet.

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight

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