「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」
The Black Water River in the southern Black Stone Territory shimmered with sparkling light. Dew on the riverbanks evaporated under the rising sun, creating a thin layer of mist.
Sun, the Golden Dragon, had his wings tucked in, lying prone on the river beach. His massive body resembled a rolling golden hill.
He would occasionally snort, exhaling two streams of scorching, sulfur-scented air.
Kado, the Hill Giant, had found a millstone-sized green rock by the river. He sat on an even larger boulder, intently sharpening his brand-new javelin.
"CLANG... SHHH..."
The metal spearhead scraped against the coarse green rock, producing a rhythmic, grating sound.
The javelin was a full eight meters long. Its shaft was made of ironwood that Raylo had specially selected, its dark brown grain as hard as iron. Only the very tip was fitted with a barbed and grooved Refined Iron spearhead.
This was a compromise.
