"Hero" by Kayla Awesome Dragon Pahl

     His name was Akheldron. He was invincible. At the age of ten, before most boys would even think about killing a man, Akheldron had killed his first dragon with nothing but a broken arrowhead. The men in whose company he"d been had all died horribly, yet he had been unscathed. Ever since that day he had been known as Akheldron the Invincible throughout his homeland.

     His flowing dark mane fell gracefully above his piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight into a person"s soul. His eyes were a death sentence when they glared, a blessing when their look was favorable. His lips were those of a dying poet, his voice imperious, his teeth as white as an angel"s robe. His well-tanned body would make a Greek god the most vibrant shade of green with envy. His high cheekbones and chiseled face framed an aristocratic nose, and his chin was strong, square, and undeniably masculine.

     He was widely admired wherever he went. A famed hero, women admired him and swooned as he passed while men looked after him with envy naked in their eyes. Not many could have such blessings as his.

     His latest quest was to rescue Princess Sildera from the evil dragon, Tyrrn. As was usually the case, many had tried and many had failed. The princess was also likely to be one of the many who tried and failed to win his heart.

     Armed to the teeth and being invincible as he was, nothing could stop him.

     His horse refused to carry him up to the dragon's lair, high in the mountains, so he"d had to go on foot alone. A lesser man could not have done it.

     He drew his massive sword, the metallic ring echoing. The leather-wrapped handle was stained with the blood of many mighty foes.

     Fearlessly he entered the lair of the beast, wandering the vast network of tunnels until he finally discovered his quarry. The massive reptile lounged upon his hoard of treasure, but the princess was nowhere in sight. The beast had probably already eaten her.

     Akheldron strode forth boldly, addressing the monster. "You have finally met your match, dragon. I am Akheldron the Invincible. You shall not defeat me!"

     Yet, with merely a puff of flame, the mighty warrior was reduced to a pile of ashes. So much for being invincible.

     Tyrrn reached down and drew another mark in the soft floor of the lair with his claw. This made eleven.

     Sildera walked in, instantly spotting the pile of ashes on the floor. "Another one?" She asked reprovingly.

     Tyrrn yawned, stretching. "This is getting far too easy."