The Riders of the Green Dragon The Oath of Eryndar

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The flames of the small altar cast dancing shadows on the crumbling walls of the old fortress, which had long been called "Stone Crown." Between the towering columns, which jutted into the nite sky like broken fingers, stood the green dragon Eryndar. His scales shimmered in the moonlight like emerald steel, interwoven with veins that glowed in a mysterious turquoise. Moss had settled on its flanks, as if it were not just a creature of the sky, but also of the forest. Two men, gray-haired and marked by the long journey, stepped to his side. Both wore pointed hats and cloaks that fluttered in the wind, and held their spears like symbols of responsibility, not of war. Their faces were framed by beards, but their eyes held a clarity that knew no fatigue. The elder of the two raised his hand, and his voice, hoarse from years of silence, echoed thru the ruin: "Eryndar, Son of the First Wings, Goalkeeper of the Green Path." We have come to renew the oath that once preserved the lands from decay. The dragon bowed its head. His eyes, deep as lakes, glowed golden in the firelight. "So many moons have passed since a person found the courage to speak this promise." Why should I believe that you can bear the weight of these words? The younger one, whose cloak was as brown as the earth, stepped forward. He leaned on the spear, but his voice was firm: "Because we are not here in the name of ourselves." We are messengers of a kingdom that is on the verge of breaking. When the dragons fall silent, when the guardians no longer watch, then darkness will creep over every valley. Silence followed. Only the crackling of the fire could be heard, and the wind carried the scent of damp stone and moss. Finally, Eryndar let out a deep, guttural rumble that rolled like thunder over the walls. "Then you shall take the oath, as it was done in the days of the First." But know this: A vow to me binds not only your voices but your lives as well. The men knelt. They laid their spears over the fire, so that the blades glowed in the light. Together they spoke, as if their voices were guided by an ancient force: "We vow to protect the paths of the Green, to honor the breath of the forest, and to maintain the balance." We stand with heart and blood by the side of the dragon that watches over us.Eryndar closed his eyes. A warm glow emanated from him, like a green light that burrowed into the stones and filled the cracks of the ruin. The old banners, tattered in the wind, began to sway gently as if an invisible hand had touched them. "Your oath is accepted," spoke the dragon. "But time will test whether you are worthy." Soon the darkness will send a messenger, and then it will be revealed whether your words are more than mere whispers in the wind. The men stood up.