Walking through the shadowed and quiet hikers trail through the Webon forest, the group’s sense of uneasiness steadily grew. The forest beyond the narrow path was dense with trees and underbrush. Sometimes it would thin out and the sun would sneak through the canopy to light the forest around them; otherwise they’d rarely see a meter into the darkness. Not that there was much to see, all that could be seen was trees. And the farther into the forest the group travelled the quieter it became. It was as if the animals and the very trees were watching and waiting for something to happen.
This made everyone more edgy; they jumped at every little sound and started even when their own shadows crept to the corner of their eyes. The apprehension became stronger the deeper they went into the forest. Young minds all recalled the stories they were told throughout their lives about the forest they travelled in now. As the day wore on, their pace quickened all wanting to get out of the tense silence faster.
“I can’t stand all this silence.” Aspen snarled quietly, needing to hear the comforting sound of her voice in the thick creeping silence. Though they’d all said those words at some point during the seemingly long day.
Trinity gave a quick look behind her. “Well, I can’t stand the feeling that we’re being watched.” She professed. “Something is definitely not right. But it may just be the forest itself.”
It was in such a state of mind that they came across a stretch of clear land. The trail had transitioned back into a road that led straight through it and over a hill down to the far side of the clearing. One side looked like it was favored for overnight camps, as it had a dark spot of dirt where a fire pit would be built. They stopped at the tree line. The clearing seemed safe. Sunlight even erupted into it, showing flowers and a small fresh water stream. It looked inviting. Yet it wasn’t. The group continued to stand a few feet from where the tree line stood, staring at it with suspicion and dread.
“Pretty.” Lauroran leaned over to Aspen. “You want me to check again?”
Aspen shook her head immediately. “No. We’re not going to be stopping here… and I’m sure there’s something waiting for us. You would be vulnerable to arrows… we all would.” She whispered and paused. “And it drained you severely the first time.” She may not sense other magic users beyond the group, but she knew this feeling far too well not to heed it.
“I agree.” Ranen commented. “That’s not the brightest of ideas right now.”
“Did we want to hitch around?” Dion asked.
In the silence that followed, all eyes scanned the edges of the clearing. The foliage edged around like a thin wall, some areas thinner than others.
Ranen was the first to speak. “If we are going to be ambushed by thieves or worse, I’d rather have the room to swing a sword.”
Aspen pursed her lips at those words. “Yeah, but I’d rather be the one ambushing. We could sneak around in the forest and catch those who are watching us by surprise.”
Immediately, Ranen shook his head. “I doubt any of us know this wood very well to sneak up on anyone who may be waiting. I would rather not get lost, and separated from everyone else.” He argued, trying to be matter of fact.
Rubbing her temples, Aspen sighed. “Fine. If we keep talking, we’ll just keep overthinking this, so who can argue?” She shook herself and drew her sword. “Let’s go see if we spring a trap then.”
“Think we should call our dragons?” Dion asked.
Lauroran scoffed. “I’m sure, if there is danger, it’s just a couple of thieves. Nothing we can’t handle.”
“I’m sure our voices carry too.” Trinity commented. No one moved; they were all looking at her; still as calm as ever, but nervous and unsure inside. She didn’t know why they kept referring to her, she didn’t know tactics well. Trinity didn’t feel like their leader, not yet. This was what Ranen was for, he was always more sure and confident. She looked the clearing over, and scanned the trees all around it. She nodded at Ranen before slowly stepping into the clearing.
The others followed, everyone but Trinity arming themselves. They all kept their eyes on the forest around them. The forest itself seemed to be holding its breath in eagerness. When they passed the middle of the clearing, and had crested the small hill, the group started breathing again.
Aspen still kept her eyes cautiously on the forest. “Maybe we were just being paranoid…”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than out from the trees, lunged dozens of large bilnogs with jagged edged swords and spears in their hands. They were larger than them by a few feet, even when they walked on all fours on their long arms. They were a hardy race; with great bulging muscles under brown-green skin. Their hands ended in claws, and they had large carnivore canines extruding from their mouths. The bilnogs glared at them with large puffy, bloodshot eyes; thirsty for a good fight.
They were surrounded; everyone drew and readied their weapons. Except Trinity.
Trinity just stood there for a moment. “Most bilnogs are immune to magic…” she warned the others, remembering what Roseweed had told her. Inside, she was fighting with herself. Her hand would slowly edge towards her sword, and then be drawn back. Her eyes were ever upon the bilnogs. She had been able to avoid fighting so far, but she may not be able to avoid it now.
The bilnogs around them started to chuckle. Not just at how they had these six humans surrounded, but also because Trinity only stood there, sword still in her sheath. They jeered at her in their own tongue. Cruel and harsh the words of their language sounded to their ears.
The biggest of the bilnogs took a proud steep forward. “Look’ie here.” It was worse to hear the common language spoken by such creatures. “We ‘ave trespaz-zers in our mist. They must be tau’ a val-u-able lesson.” He said, and chuckled. His speech was slurred and rustic; his accent was deep, but still clear to the group.
They all shivered at the sound of the bilnogs voice. “Well, how about we teach you a lesson about not ambushing people travelling on the free road!” Aspen snapped angrily.
The bilnogs mocked her by acting afraid. “Look, doll. We outnumber ya, so it wou’ be wise if ye dropped yer weapons and came wi’ us to see our great leader, and have ‘im do wi’ all of ye as he wishes.” Another bilnog jeered with a wide evil grin. “Aft’a we ‘ave our own spoils tha’ is.” He leered at a few choice members of the group, making each one feel the need of a bath.
Aspen smirked and seemed about to charge at the bilnog.
Trinity stopped her and stepped toward the lead bilnog. “I am the leader of this company. I wish to know who your leader is?” she asked.
They all laughed and the leader smirked at eyed them as if they were dense. “He is da one tha’ brings power and prestige to our Tribe leaders an fuels us wi’ strength and victory!” The leader told her. “He is Lord and Sorcerer Siegev Abinor.” He jeered.
Trinity suddenly shivered at the name. She’d been afraid he would say that.
The lead bilnog looked them over for a moment; suddenly noting that most of the humans had pendants and swords only certain magic users used. “Now… I ‘ave this big feelin’ tha’ one of you cou’ know …or be the Destin Child.” He blurted out, suddenly smiling mischievously.
The group all stood, frozen, for a few moments. Trinity’s hand finally touched the handle of her sword for the first time since the encounter at the lake, but the first time with intent to use it.
“Ah, ah, ah. Move that hand away, missy.” The bilnog ordered, pointing his sword at her.
Trinity moved her hand back and took another step towards the bilnog. “But I thought you wanted us to put our weapons on the ground. That is what you said.” She remarked.
The bilnog glared at her, then motioned for two other bilnogs to take her weapon.
Aspen was about to attack, but Ranen stopped her and gave her a look that told her that Trinity knew what she was doing. Or he hoped so. Though his heart beat wildly at the thought of any of these scum touching her.
When the two bilnogs reached Trinity, one held its sword right at her throat as the other held out his hand. “Hand ova’ tha’ pretty sword of yers. Try anythin’ an’ my buddy will kill you.”
Trinity didn’t say anything. At their gesture, she slowly slid her sword out. When it was more than half way out, she drew it very quickly the rest of the way and swiftly slashed one of the bilnogs deep in the throat before he had time to react, then quickly swung it at the other bilnog across his bulging stomach, creating a deep gash. The sword rang mightily with every stroke, and it only took her a few seconds to take them both down. The second bilnog dropped his sword and tried to hold his entrails in his stomach. He looked down at his companion with astonishment and a small amount of fear, and then he finally fell after Trinity lightly pushed him. The first bilnog gurgled before he, too, fell and bled to death.
She turned to the other bilnogs, her sword in front of her in a fighting stance. The blade gleamed lightly as the silver steel was hit by the sunlight, with a glistening trail of dark bilnog blood trailing down. “Anyone else want to take away my weapon?” she asked. She looked around at the startled and shocked bilnogs, then to the lead bilnog.
His face was deep red with anger. “Seize them!” he roared. “Don’ kill da girl! Siegev will wa’ her alive!” The other bilnogs raced towards the group like a wave. As they advanced, all six humans pushed them back with air blasts in unison, for only physically manifested elemental magic would work, though less than normal. That only gave them more time to get ready for the rushing blades.
“Dragon Speaka’s all right!” the lead bilnog scorned. “Seize them! Do an’a thing to capture them! They may be the ones Siegev wants!” he ordered, drawing his scimitar. Whether the other bilnogs heard him over the clanging of blades or not, couldn’t be determined.
The group found that battling bilnogs’ was harder than the stories said they were. They were strong and brutal. Being outnumbered and unable to use most their element powers to their full advantage didn’t help them much either. And more of them still seemed to come out of the forest like an endless rush of water.
Cutting down one bilnog, Ranen shouted, “We’re not going to be able to hold them off very long without help!” Ranen was now battling three bilnogs at once; one hand had his sword and another had a long dagger. He blocked one blade, sliced the hand holding another blade before stabbing the third bilnog in the stomach. Then kicked the first bilnog away from him, killing the second one before going after the first one again. “We need to get out of here!” Ranen finished two bilnogs with swift movements with his sword. “Where’s those dragons of ours?” he asked the others. When Aspen tried to answer, four other bilnogs drew Ranen’s attention, making him miss what she yelled, if she even replied, much less heard him. He cursed and kicked one bilnog in the stomach as he cut another across the chest. The other two suddenly broke out in fear as above the dragons appeared, using their innate dragon intimidation on the bilnogs.
Suddenly, one of the five bilnogs Aspen was fighting screamed in pain, and then turned to run in a wild frenzy. Aspen looked to see a hatchling Fire dragon fiercely biting and clawing at the bilnogs back. Aspen didn’t have time to wonder where it came from; she still had to fight the other four. Wasting no more time, she fought them with a series of kicks, some surprise punches that nearly broke her knuckles and a few swift and precise movements of her sword.
Across the clearing, Lauroran was having a hard time keeping up with four bilnogs all at once. He had already used his only fighting spell he had so far, one that made the staff he carried a Fire staff, but it had worn out, leaving him with just a fighting quarterstaff. He was knocked to the ground by one of the bilnogs, but before they could strike their deathblows, a young stranger hit them from behind with four well-aimed daggers. He ran to Lauroran and helped him to his feet, then pushed him to the side to block a bilnog blade with his own. Lauroran, seeing his chance, stabbed the bilnog through the side with his boot knife, and then went to fight other bilnogs that were slowly advancing on him and the stranger. There was no time for introductions or pleasantries now.
Trinity, heedless of the newcomer, too busy blocking the sharp blades from biting too deep and hitting her marks when she jabbed and swung. Her movements were sometimes too quick to watch as she was like one big blur. When she was clear, she suddenly made a large and powerful fireball in her hands and threw it at one of the bilnogs.
Most magic may not work on these creatures, but fire was fire, and it still burned. He screamed as the flames caught on his cloths and engulfed him, burning his flesh.
As he screamed, Trinity threw a fallen dagger right at him, and it dug in to its hilt, piercing his heart and killing him. Trinity turned to the other bilnogs, leaving the corpse to cremate. She quickly low kicked the other two bilnogs advancing on her and hit one over the head with the handle of her sword as it fell and stepped down onto the other bilnog’s throat and broke it.
The self-proclaimed leader of the bilnog group advanced on Trinity and they began exchanging blows. Even though he was bigger than she was, she used that to her best advantage; using quick attacks and dodges just like Aspen taught her. Trinity zipped around him, slicing cuts behind the brute’s knees, sending him down on his kneecaps. The bilnog was still fighting; he twisted around, bringing his large arm swinging across, and knocked Trinity hard, sending her to the ground. She rolled, trying to use the momentum to get her legs underneath her again but was only able to get onto one knee. Trinity had to dispatch another minion on her way back to the struggling leader. On her way there, she picked up one of the dead bilnogs daggers –more of a sword to her. Silently, she thanked her four Masters for teaching her how to fight with both hands.
The leader watched her defiantly, unable to get up. He was able to block her next few blows, but as they were facing off their strength, Trinity quickly dislodged her borrowed sword and burrowed it deeply into his chest. It slipped in a gap in his armor as well as his large ribs and pierced right into his heart. He grunted in surprise, his buggy eyes bulging. Trinity backed away, leaving the other weapon inside his chest, and watched him fall onto the dirt.
The other bilnogs froze in astonishment at their dead leader; the new comer took advantage of this and went into a fighting stance, putting his hands close to each other, and started making, what looked like, a lightning ball, but when he launched it, it branched out towards all of the unsuspecting bilnogs. Trinity joined her own electric bolts to his, adding to its branches, making them more powerful. It took a great deal of energy, but the bilnogs were stopped dead in their tracks, the magic going straight for the metal that they wore, thus affected the bilnogs well enough to allow everyone a chance to finish off the attackers.
Trinity put her sword into her sheath and tiredly walked over to the stranger. “Thanks for your help.”
The four dragons flew at top speed to where they knew their Dra’Sorrian would be. When they got there, they were just in time to see a small dragon jump onto many bilnogs and kill them; they joined the fun causing any enemies entering the fray to turn back in fright. They also got to see the stranger erupt lighting from his hands at the rest of the bilnogs.
As they descended, Nemesis was the only one to notice the large black dragon on a thick tree overlooking the clearing. When the dragon spotted Nemesis and the others, the large dragon made a quick getaway. Nemesis decided, grudgingly, to let her go and descended to the clearing with the others.
They landed in time to hear the newcomer introduce himself. “My name is Tom O’mearez.” He said with a northern burr to his voice, and shook Trinity’s hand. He looked exhausted, having run a ways to reach their clearing to help when he heard the fighting.
Trinity smiled. “I’m Trinity Tragon. The others are Ranen Mazeric, Aspen Artica, Dion and Lauroran Enceladus. Those dragons belong to all of them.” She informed.
Tom nodded. “Hello. Can I guess that you’re Dra’Sorrian?” He absently wiped sweat from his brow and tried to regain his breath.
They all nodded, except Lauroran. “For your information, I’m a Mage that has a dragon.” He informed, though there was no haughtiness in his tone; Vamana tended to blur lines.
Tom nodded an apology as he gulped for breath. “She doesn’t have a dragon, is she a witch too?” he asked between breaths, looking at Trinity.
Trinity smiled and shook her head. “No. I’m a Dra’Sorrian that is looking to save her dragon.”
Tom nodded, not much for prying into other people’s affairs. “Nice to meet you all.” He was still gaining his breath, though he was almost back to normal.
“And you’re a Mystic Knight—Dra’Kyll?” Ranen asked. The attire of the young man plainly showed what magic sect he belonged to. Tom wore mostly a splattering of dark blue and silver scale and plate armor, with a hard, though worn, leather shirt peeking from underneath. All except his scale boots had seemed to have been pristine before. Now they were splattered of bilnog blood and mud on the metal. His sword also had the insignia of the magical dragon-riding Knights who directly served the royal court.
Tom nodded. “Yes. Though, I’m still in my last year of training. My teacher is at Dra’marii doing some other work, leaving me here to take a breather on my intense training.” He told them somewhat sullenly; though the irony of his words did not go unnoticed.
“Oh.” Dion marveled. “You must be a quick learner to have learned a lighting attack like that.”
Tom nodded. “Yeah, that’s one attack I’ve grown fond of. So, what was that battle about? Bilnogs are known to ambush travelers, but I heard that they wanted to take you prisoner.” He asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
“They were told to capture any Dra’Sorrian that were traveling I would assume.” Trinity told him. She could see loyalty in this young Knight. She knew intuitively that she could trust him but she didn’t want to drag him into something that wasn’t his problem.
“Why?” Tom asked. “I mean, besides for you, Trinity, I don’t see how they think they can out battle this many magic users. Sure, they hate all ‘Speakers with a passion …but I’m still confused. Why would they want you?” He had a sudden burning desire to know, as if his fate depended on it.
“Show him your birthmark, Trinity. He should know what it means.” Aspen suggested. “The one on your shoulder.”
Trinity sighed and showed Tom her dragon shaped birthmark on her upper right shoulder blade.
“You’re the Destined Child?” Tom asked in astonishment.
Trinity nodded. “Cool, hu?” she commented as Tom finished examining it. “I didn’t even know my birthmark actually marked me as the Destined Child until Aspen pointed it out.” She put in as she turned to face Tom again.
Tom smirked in awe and disbelief. “So it’s all true… what the Masters and other ‘Speakers’ say? You get a Golden Dragon and can do all four elements?”
“Yes. I don’t have my dragon yet, as I said before. That’s why we’re traveling. A long while ago, my dragon’s egg was stolen by someone who doesn’t want the Prophesy to happen. An evil Sorcerer.” Trinity explained.
Tom sighed. “Let me guess. The Sorcerer Siegev? There are rumors abounding about a Sorcerer raising an army, along with razing nearby villages; though so far no one knew where this “army” is located.”
“That’s who we believe it is.” Ranen said. “We’ve already encountered his second in command and dragon ally.” He sheathed his sword as the larger dragons all settled down on the grass.
“Dragon?” Tom asked in surprise.
Lauroran nodded. “Blackveil.”
Tom groaned. Then looked at the dragons. “Well…” he started, scratching his head, “I see you’ve got quite a battle coming up. Especially if you’re heading to the castle he’s apparently made claim to…” He hesitated, looking a little abashed. “I wish I could join you, but I can’t come along.”
“Why not? We could use you.” Ranen told him.
“I know, but my Master advised me to stay away from Siegev… As an apprentice, I have a lot of protection… but since my Master isn’t here, I am an easy target. Especially for the likes of him. He seems to have it in for Mystic Knight Apprentices.” He said sadly, and then perked up. “But if I run into any wandering Mystic Knights or sorcerers, I’ll tell them about you and your quest. Maybe they’ll help if you need it.”
Trinity smiled. “That would help. We’re sorry you can’t come help yourself. I’d hate to be the one risking your life.”
Tom nodded; he looked torn but held firm to his decision.
“I hope we cross paths again.” Lauroran confessed. “And thanks for saving my ass.” he added.
The Mystic Knight smiled and nodded. “You’re welcome. And I too, hope we meet again. It was a pleasure to fight among you, even for a short fight.” Tom told them, and then looked over to the young dragon that was chatting with Skyflyer. Skyflyer had to crouch low to the ground so they could talk at eye level. “Fizzle! Come on! We have to go now.” Tom called.
The blood red and silver-platinum dragon looked over at Tom before walking to him with a grin. He was recently out of the egg. We’re going? He asked forlornly.
Tom nodded.
Fizzle looked up at the others with a soft hum. Bye.
“Bye.” Everyone echoed, waving. The small land locked dragon was cute, though promised to row into a fierce warrior of the sky one day.
Tom waved back as he walked the way the others came in. “Safe journey!” he said before vanishing behind some trees and bushes.
That’s when Ranen took Trinity into his arms. “Your swordplay was great!” He told her proudly. He’d tried to look out for her while he was fighting, but with all the bilnogs, it hasn’t been easy.
Trinity nodded her head with a tense giggle. “Yes, I was taught well.” Trinity smiled weakly with a sigh and put her hands about his shoulders. Her eyes darted towards the bodies lying scattered on the field.
Ranen didn’t say anything for a moment. “It’s good that you can defeat someone in a fight besides me.” He chuckled lightly. Trinity smiled sheepishly before she suddenly collapsed to her knees. Ranen caught her before she could fall further and knelt beside her. “Are you all right?” He asked just as she began shaking. He took her into his arms and rocked her gently. “It’s okay, Trine. It’s all done. It’s over…” Trinity couldn’t stop. The sudden realization that she took so many lives, no matter how vile, seeped into her soul and all realization shook her body. Those could have been humans she’d just killed today. Ranen tried to soothe her. “I know it sounds foolish, but you’ve come a long way in your abilities and how to do them well. You had to do what you had to, and you did it with honor.” He soothed her with as much encouragement and love as he could. Ranen was surprised how quick her emotions could change. He took a breath; training was one thing, actually living that training was another. Especially for someone as sensitive as Trinity. “Those bilnogs were hard to fight, they’re trained to fight hard and nasty. If we didn’t stop them, many innocent lives could have been lost to their blood lusts.”
Trinity shook her head. “But I’m the Destined Child…”
“Yes, you are. And as such you have an obligation to this world to protect it against those who would destroy it. Don’t be ashamed of fighting. It’s necessary at times. You will have to fight for your life in the final battle. Not me, not anyone else. You.” He gripped her shoulders tightly and kissed her just hard. “And I don’t think Siegev would feel the same as you. He would want to destroy you. You have to destroy him first, in any way possible. Understand?” he asked, rubbing his hands over her shoulders now. “It’s okay. It doesn’t make you any less of a good person. All Dra’Sorrian have to fight at some point. As Draeluni, I believe it’s something that comes with your destiny.”
Trinity had stopped shaking and was able to keep away the tears that threatened to come. They looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment. “Please always be there for me, Ranen.” She pleaded to him in a quiet voice.
He smiled as he let out a breath of relief. “Don’t worry, love. I will.” Ranen leaned in and kissed her lightly.
Aspen stepped up. “I hate to break up such a tender moment, but we should get going. We still have a few hours of traveling time ahead of us.” Aspen interrupted. “I know we’re all tired, but we can’t stop here.” She glanced pointedly at the stinking bilnog corpses.
You know how to reach us if you run into trouble… again. Bluemoon said a bit peevishly, taking off and flying in the direction of the mountains just south east of their position. Vamana followed her, careful of her injury.
Nemesis stayed where she was. There’s something you should know. She told all the humans.
“What is it?” Aspen asked.
Nemesis paused. Blackveil was watching. Meaning that was her little army of bilnogs. Thus those were Siegev’s bilnog followers.
Trinity smirked. “Yes, the lead bilnog told us they worked for him.” she reminded. “I just didn’t know she was present…” Trinity trailed off. “You think she knows who I am?”
Nemesis made a shrugging motion. Doubt it. You’re all very powerful and can do many of the same things. But, she could know if Siegev already knows. She told her.
“Well I bet he has been planning on this happening eventually, especially if he knows enough to train a Dra’Knyll for so long. We just need to be sneakier.” Aspen said. “Come on, let’s go. Nemesis, thanks for the information, now go back to the lake with Skyflyer. We’ll give you a call every now and then to tell you our position.” She said, handing Trinity her pack.
After a brief hesitation, Nemesis nodded. As Nemesis and Skyflyer flew off back to Water Lake, Trinity thanked Aspen and slipped her pack on. “Let’s head out.” She announced and made her way to the trail, followed by everyone else.
Ranen quickly went to Trinity’s side and took her hand and squeezed it tightly. A mountain of worries had lifted from his shoulders, but was still worried about whether his Destined Child was strong enough to take on Siegev given her aversion to killing, and if not, what could give her that strength?
Siegev looked at Andre with disappointment. It had been more than two weeks since he sent Andre on his recon mission. “I give you a simple job of finding and perhaps retrieving the Child and her friends and you couldn’t even do that.” He said as he shook his head.
“Everything would have been fine if that Water girl and her friend hadn’t showed up. They walked right into my camp!” Andre flung up his arms. “It’s like the Water girl had experience in that sort of thing… she seemed to have extra power… she had this look on her face…” Andre told Siegev.
“Like someone who hunts evil? A bloodlust look?” The sorcerer gazed at him calculatingly. Suddenly interested. The description felt familiar.
Andre nodded.
Siegev growled and paced down the long table. “Aspen Artica.”
“Yes. That’s who she was.” Andre took a few steps closer, frustration and anger coloring his stance, but carefully controlled.
Siegev went to his desk and sat down. “She’s a young Dragon Speaker, yet she’s already renowned to have saved many lives from ‘evil’ people, magic users or no. She became a Dragon Speaker whelp and started evil hunting as a hobby for her spare time. She’s well known as the one who killed Dark Mage Crioss. The Mage that turned our own Blackveil into an evil dragon.” He told him, mostly to himself.
Andre sighed and crossed his arms. “It could all be perfect. With all her anger forever within her, she could be easy to turn.” He said with a smile.
A slow smile grew on Siegev’s face. “Do what you want with her. I give her to you. She’s your responsibility now.” He sneered, and then sat down at the head of the table; the chair was throne like; it was bejeweled and had a velvet cushion. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Now, for a weakness we can use to deal with the destined brat.” He said, thinking. He looked up at Andre. “Only one I can think of at the moment is the Egg. But we can’t destroy it; she’ll no doubt know that.” Siegev sighed and turned his thoughts to something else. “How is Pallia taking the news about Mervea?” he asked.
“Not good.” He shook his head, only slightly mournful himself. “She’s already looking for a spell that would allow her revenge.” Andre answered.
Siegev chuckled. “Good. That should keep her busy.” He murmured.
Andre sighed and took another step towards his Master. “But, in lighter news, I may have found out what the Child looks like.”
Siegev looked up at him with a sharp, keen gaze. “Really?” He smiled. “Well, that is good news.”
Andre nodded. “Red-brown hair, mostly gold eyes, slim, and slightly tanned. Average in height but strong. She had this… peaceful innocence to her,” he described, then added as an afterthought, “it was enough to make me want to spit. She’s the one that stopped the fight between Aspen and I. Somehow she was able to do it with just a word.” He was still confused how that girl had been able to compel him; maybe it was a passive talent of someone destined.
Siegev smiled and sat back in his chair as he saw the girl in his mind. Clearly not listening to his second in command. “The one we saw in the market? Excellent.” He hissed.
A timid knock came from the door.
“Enter.” Siegev ordered.
One of his men stepped in. He wore black armor over red-dyed leather and mail. On his chest plate was a dark and pale green symbol of a full moon surrounded by three blood red stars. “Blackveil’s back.” He told Siegev.
Siegev sighed and got up. “I hope she has better news dealing with these children then you had.” He commented and followed his man to where Blackveil usually met him, in the back courtyard where only gnarled shrubs and thorn bushes grew. Siegev noticed once he and Andre got there that Blackveil was standing alone. One of his eyebrows rose as he folded his arms. “Well, Blackveil. Tell me you had more luck then my second in command.” Siegev told her.
Blackveil sighed and stretched out on her belly. No such luck, Siegev. She smirked. That damned Draeluni is stronger then I suspected. In my last attempt to capture the little squirt with those bilnog fools, they were all destroyed. There was one human girl who moved faster than a Water Dragon could swim. Her voice hissed venomously, showing her anger and frustration. She hesitated. …At Gate Lake she also disposed of my human troops with a signal swipe of her hand. The traitors… I couldn’t convert them back. I had to kill them all. She told him.
Siegev’s eyes suddenly went a blood red. His fists went white. He couldn’t believe what he’d heard. It wasn’t possible. Mind tricks were not a magic the Dra’Sorrian’s taught, at least as far as he’d been told.
Blackveil studied Siegev and Andre. What, may I ask, was Andre’s men’s’ demise?
In an angry fit, Siegev cursed and hit a trunk of a nearby tree, at the same time, lightning crackled through the night sky above them. “His men were beaten by two of her friends. Mervea was also killed.”
Blackveil growled. She shook her large head. Going to them andfighting them has been useless. Young as they are, they are strong. Anyone can see that. Also unpredictably capable. She sat up proudly, her chest muscles bulging. We should let them come, and not waste more men trying to capture them and bring them here. They head here anyway, why not let them come for the Egg… but make deadly sure they don’t leave. She said, extending her sharp claws into the dry ground.
Andre looked at Siegev.
Siegev straightened and looked at both Andre and Blackveil. After a few tense moments, he smiled at the dragon. “This is why I wished for your assistance, wise Blackveil.” He smirked, knowing the power of flattery when it suited, and turned to Andre. “Post guards at the outer towers, and have them report if they see anything, even if it’s a flicker of a leaf.” He said and walked away.
Andre didn’t follow; he looked up at Blackveil. He shook his head. “You’re right, they are powerful. Does that make you wish you were on the other side…?”
Blackveil chuckled and tilted her massive head slightly. For now they are winning. But they won’t be for long, as we will no longer underestimate them. She said, abruptly taking to the air to land on the thick wall surrounding the castle.
The dust she disturbed nearly covered him, and her down draft almost knocked his feet from under him. Even so, Andre kept his feet steady and simply dusted himself off with a rueful glanced at the preening dragon, suddenly wishing his master would allow him to find his own dragon. At least to give this cursed earth dragon pause. Andre went inside and found his way into his chambers, but he couldn’t sleep. The clear image of the ‘Speaker bounty hunter haunted his mind. When he did fall asleep, her voice captivated his dreams.
