he dragon stood and observed the dwarf.
T
hat am I doing here?” King Ogg asked
W
himself as he struggled to conquer the
incline. It bothered him that the “path”
consisted of numerous obstacles worthy
of an acrobat's skills. It bothered him
even more that he was no longer young. But what
bothered him the most was that the Great War had wiped
out almost all of Swargard’s inhabitants, there had not
since been a turn for the better, and he was powerless to
improve the situation. This is why he agreed to a kind of
meeting unheard of in dwarves’ history - he was on his
way to meet a dragon. Dragons are not the type of
creatures you can meet in passing and engage in small
talk about the weather. Nor would you find yourself in
their proximity and manage not to be eaten. They simply
pay as much attention to dwarves as dwarves care about
the feelings of a Geranium. Geraniums do not grow in
the North anyway.
Except for bears and gmurs, nobody liked the icy
north. Nevertheless, here we saw a king and his tribe,
living in the north for centuries and avoiding all others.
As gods commanded, they had been working on science,
surviving, and waiting for them to return. The dwarves’
stubbornness and stamina allowed them to persevere
there all these years. Their courage and honor, on the
other hand, had almost plunged them into the Great
War, where their secret lore would have been exposed.
Ogg himself wanted to lead his dwarven brethren to
battle against Swargard’s evil forces which had been
consolidated into an unbeatable army by then. It was a
matter of pride. Back then, 150 years ago, the dwarves of
the north swallowed their pride. They did not go to war.
They waited and despaired knowing that the powers of
evil were winning. They obeyed the gods. Because of that
decision, Ogg would never have been able to remain king
had Perun not intervened and arrested the upheaval. But
that is a story for another time.
Evil had triumphed but it did not destroy all life and
hope. The Great War was over. However, everyone knew
it would reignite at some point. So, the dwarves of the
north continued to obey their king and diligently
prepared for the next war. This time, no one would stop
them from showing up on the battlefield. Most likely
they would die there, regardless of how bravely and aptly
they fought. But to the northern dwarves death was
more acceptable than the shame in which they now lived.
Other races did not know about the dwarves’ shame
because they were not aware of their existence. Except
for the dragons. It always seemed that dragons were
aware of everything.
And so Ogg, grumbling to himself, approached the top
of the hill and the plateau which was designated as the
rendezvous spot. One did not decline a dragon’s
invitation. The King was who they asked for. The King
alone.
Ogg climbed onto the plateau. The dragon had been
waiting. Everything he knew or thought he had known
about dragons had not prepared King Ogg for the
encounter. Never before did he feel the need to run away
from someone or something… until this moment.
1
His thoughts searched for references
which would help him assess the
humanoid’s character. Few were available.
“Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
Ogg understood these words although he was not sure
that he actually heard them. The dragon did not move
his lips in order to speak. The words sounded like a
powerful but pleasant melody. He realized that he should
expect to hear thunder when the dragon actually spoke.
They surveyed each other. The dwarf suddenly realized
that he had not yet replied. “Why did you invite me?” He
did not intend to sound crude and impolite. The
gargantuan presence of the all-powerful dragon had
overwhelmed him completely.
“I wish to hear your opinion.”
“On what?”
“On many things. But first, do you need a rest? To
warm up by a fire perhaps. Anything at all?”
“I could use a fire”. Ogg heard himself speak. He was
surprised by his own response because he was not cold.
He realized that he wanted to see the dragon spit fire and
set wood ablaze.
“Very well. I will wait for you to start it before we
continue.”
Having no way out, for the first time in years, king
Ogg collected wood and started a fire. He did not feel
humiliated by this. Dwarves’ kings are not arrogant
rulers. He did feel stupid because his desire to experience
dragon’s powers had backfired on him. As he started the
fire with a lighter instead of a flint, he heard the
melodious voice again: “An interesting way to tame fire.
I am Najjachi, son of Gozmidure the Great. Welcome.”
“All the best to you as well. I am King Ogg, son of
Velsedmon. Why are we here?”
“So that our meeting remains a secret to all.”
Ogg felt a mild chill. The words did not seem
threatening, but the tone of the dragon’s voice had
changed. He had a feeling that he would soon witness
something deemed so secretive by the dragon, that he
felt queasy in anticipation of it.
“King of the Northern Dwarves: Before I reveal the
reason for our meeting, I must ask if you will accept my
conditions. That is, I wish to hear your opinion about my
proposal. Although I do not doubt your honor, I want to
warn you that I will know whether you speak the truth,
just like I knew why you asked for the fire which is
warming you up presently. You are free to accept or
decline my offer but in either case, you will only speak of
it with me, no one else. If you decide to accept my
proposal, you will risk the fate of all dwarves and other
inhabitants of Swargrad, same as I will risk the fate of all
dragons. So, please decide whether you wish to hear me
out, or if it is time for us to part company and act as if
this meeting never took place.”
 Ogg knew that he would go along with it. He would
never forgive himself otherwise, He believed the dragon
would speak the truth. No doubt about it. Yet, he heard
himself speak:
“What if I cannot keep quiet?”
“In that case I will be forced to end your life.”
“How?” Ogg knew that his brain was misfiring - there
was more than one way for Najjachi to kill him,
obviously, but his own babbling words bothered him
more. The moment he added “It does not matter how”,
he heard the dragon's voice: “I will swallow you.” The
chill grew stronger, unabated by the fire. The dragon’s
decision sounded simple and final.
“I did not come all the way here in order to give up
now. I am listening.” He hoped that those words helped
him regain at least a morsel of respect. A morsel more
than what he commanded now, which was none at all.
“Fine. At the time of the Great War, the demented and
malicious creatures of Swargard were united by a
common goal to destroy all that was natural and
righteous. Dwarves, people and dragons fought back. We
are well aware of the heroic deeds that transpired.
Months went by and we were losing the war, by a lot.
Perun’s appearance changed the balance, and the forces
of evil withdrew. But defeated they were not. They dwell
on the Moon Mountain, where they excavate frigstahl,
and prepare to attack again. I know that many centuries
ago, Dajbog demanded that your tribe travel north and
develop a strange magic which did not require frigstahl.
Are you ready to tell me more about this?”
“I understand that you are about to reveal to me a
secret worthy of my life, while, at the same time, you are
inquiring about the secret of my tribe, which is not
completely unknown to you, apparently. What do you
intend to do with the information?”
“You do not have to give me the answer. If, however,
you do decide to share this information with me, I pledge
to you that I will not reveal it to anyone.”
“I will tell you about whatever interests you. I also
reserve a right to kill you if you do not keep your word.”
“How?”
“It does not matter how.”
he dragon drew his head close to the
T
king’s. The chill was finally gone. For the
first time he felt like an even partner in a
conversation and not a worthless old lump
of a dwarf. A voice danced all around him:
“I accept.” He could swear that the dragon’s voice
vibrated like a laugh.
“Dajbog said back then that the war of the gods had
begun. He said that it would affect all beings and all
worlds, whatever he meant by that. He demanded that
we isolate ourselves and dedicate our existence to
science - a kind of magic which does not require
frigstahl. He demanded that under no circumstance,
even in a case of war, would we reveal our existence to
2
anyone. He promised that he or Perun would come back,
and that we would not have to keep the secret anymore.
We promised patience and dedication. It has been like
that ever since. We brought shame upon ourselves
during the Great War, but we obeyed the gods. I hope
they come back during my lifetime and tell us that we
have done the right thing. Only then will I forgive myself
for our betrayal of others.”
“I understand. You have spoken honorably and
truthfully. I am grateful for that. I noticed you told me
nothing of the science itself, but I did not ask about it
anyway. We will come to that later. It is my turn now.
Dajbog came to us too at the start of the War of the
gods….”
Ogg caught himself wondering how many dragons
there were in the first place. He collected himself and
dedicated his attention completely to the forthcoming
words. He had a feeling that what he was about to hear
would determine not just his fate, but that of all
dwarves, humans, and dragons.
“...He told us that Svarog, the ancient father, who had
dreamt up Swargard and all of the Universe, stopped
interfering with the will of the gods. All communication
ceased.
In what seemed like a blink of an eye in god’s life,
some of the gods decided to change things around
completely. Veles and Jarovid joined Crnobog and
Morana. Perun, Triglav, Svetovid and Mokosa
confronted them. Some gods kept to themselves.
Numerous demigods took sides motivated by their own
beliefs or interests. The gods’ war took place on a
different plane of existence. At the onset, everyone was
concerned with waking up Swarog, because they knew
that if that happened, everything would end, including
gods themselves. As you know, during the Great war,
which we were losing, Perun showed up and drove away
the forces of evil. And just like that, he was gone again.
No one knows what is happening now in the gods’ war.
However, Perun did not leave quite that quickly. He
told me first about something he had created, something
I want you to see. It is time we flew to the Gate.”
“How do you mean...? You will take me with you?”
“I will not carry you, King of the Dwarves, I will allow
you to ride on my back. Look to the right, behind the pile
of rocks. You will find the saddle I have brought along.”
Ogg picked up the saddle and began fastening it to the
dragon. Both of them felt uneasy.
“Who made this saddle?”
“How could I know something like that?”
“Fine. Before me, who used this to sit on your back?”
“No one.”
“No one?”
“You will be the first “someone” ever to ride on my
back. You probably understand that it would never have
come to this if there was any other way for you to reach
our destination.”
 “I understand. Yet, the very existence of the saddle tells more, smaller dragons will also be too large. This started
me that someone already rode or meant to ride a a few months back.”
dragon.” “Are you thinking about going through it soon?”

“Have you ever heard of Korijan Zmajar?” “I have no doubts that we have to go through it if we
fail to stabilize it.”
“Yes. I thought that was a made-up story from the
past.” “Stabilize it?”

“It is not. Korijen was a human being, a friend of
dragons. The saddle belonged to him. He rode on several
dragons. This happened in ancient times, when people
were honorable and strong and when there were fewer of
them. Before they became a self-centered, selfish,
rapidly procreating mob, examples of which we saw on
the eve of the Great War. Anyway, that is a story for
another time. Climb on if you are ready.”
gg climbed onto the dragon’s back and
“We are both aware of the fact that hard working
dwarves keep digging up minor quantities of frigstahle
from Velsemines mines. It is clear to me that you use this
ore to prepare for the next conflict with the forces of evil.
Yet, I brought you here to ask if you could apply the rest
of the ore, as well as your science, toward maintaining
the present size of the gate.”
“I understand. What if we fail?”

O
settled in the saddle. Najjachi looked “Then I suggest we use the gate and thus save both
back at him. Ogg nodded and the dragon dwarves and dragons.”
took off. Up and East. To say that riding a
dragon was an incredible experience “People too?”
would fail to describe how the dwarf felt. He knew,
although no one said it out loud, that he was given an “People too.”
opportunity nobody else would have for centuries. Yet,
admiring the mighty being’s movements did not occupy “You think the gate allows passage in both
his entire mind. He knew they were on the way to see a directions?”
secret which was the cause of this meeting. To see
something created by Perun himself. Everything that “That is how gates work, usually.”
transpired that evening was more than a dwarf could
ever hope to experience, even a dwarf of the North. “But this one was made by gods and it is getting
smaller.”
The flight did not last long. The dragon landed on a
little clearing near a mountain top. There was not much “I am not sure if it is bidirectional.”
space there, maybe enough to fit two dragons. An abyss
surrounded the plateau on three sides. On the fourth “Didn’t Perun tell you where it leads?”
side, there stood a gigantic door which seemed to be
jutting out from the mountain itself. Its edges were “As I said, into other worlds.”
blurry, as if they were shimmering. It was just large
enough to allow a dragon to walk through it. “I agree. Let us try. I have no idea how to improve on
the gods’ work, but we will try.”
“Should I get off?”
“Good. Thank you for being able to make a decision,
“That would be a decent thing for you to do.” King. Climb on, it is time to head back. “

So, Ogg climbed down: “What is behind this door?”
“Other worlds. Perun created gate and showed it to
me. He told me that the gods would return, and the door
would be destroyed. However, only in the case the gods
did not return, and dragons faced extinction would we be
permitted to use it. As you know, dragons’ young can
only hatch on the Moon mountain where frigstahl was
abundant. It has been a century and a half since forces of
evil took control of the mountain. During this time, if a
dragon decided to fly off to the mountain he never came
back.”
So Ogg got on. Najjachi turned back towards Ogg and
whispered: “You should know I would not have eaten
you. Dragons do not eat dwarves.”
“Never?”
“Seldom. And reluctantly.”
Huge wings flapped and the dragon was airborne. Ogg
quietly held on to the saddle. For the second time the
dragon's voice sounded like a laugh.

“Please do not misinterpret my words: I understand

the implication of a long-term inability to procreate and
the wrath our enemy’s power might make us feel. But I
do not see any danger for the continuation of your
species. You live thousands of years.”

“You are right, there is none for now. The problem is

in the gate itself; It is getting smaller. In a few years, the
largest dragons will not fit through it. And, in a few years

3
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