Phoenix of Hope: Complete Series — Books 1-4

by Zora Marie

  The dragons hung back as they followed the men. It grew dark in the cave until it was nearly pitch black. Torches and lamps lit the cave ahead. The lights bobbed up and down with the steady waves lapping into the cave from the open ocean behind them. The sound of moving water and beating wings filled the air.

  The men on the rowboat grew anxious, fidgeting and looked back at them more often.

  Zelia glimpsed the ship around a bend of the cave. Its sail was furled so it could enter the cave. It was a tight fit, and she guessed that once high tide came, the incoming sea would crush the ship against the cavern’s ceiling.

  Though they traveled quietly, the cave amplified all sound, creating echoes. It wouldn’t be long before the men aboard the ship would hear the steady beating of dragon wings. If they couldn’t already.

  When the rowboat reached the bow of the ship one of the men yelled out, “DRAGON RIDERS!”

  The ship became a maelstrom of activity as Dotch, Fifthry, and Zelia jumped off their dragons onto the ship. Zelia faltered as she hit the deck, and Dotch caught her.

  “Zelia?”

  “I’ll be fine.” She pushed his hand away, pulled a handful of arrows, and drew one.

  “Go! We’ll call for you if we need you!” she yelled at the dragons over the echoes of beating wings and yelling men.

  “Are you sure?” Raven questioned.

  “Yes, go!” Zelia climbed atop the railing of the ship with Dotchavitch and Fifthry in front of her.

  The men from the rowboat scrambled over the railing. They were surrounded by a mismatched crew of men who all appeared to have seen long days at sea, with their long scraggly beards and salt crusted hair. The only exception was a set of young boys standing at the back of the group without weapons.

  “Why this is a first!” the man spoke with a sharp tongue that cut through the air like a knife through paper. “Dragon riders who send their dragons away as they fight!”

  An older man with a long, jagged scar across his face stepped through the crowd. It was obvious he was the captain as the crew parted for him. Her skin crawled as the captain’s right foot scraped across the wooden deck with each step. The man came to a stop before them, a sense of death emanated from him and hit her like a stone wall. She bit the inside of her lip.

  “They must know what we do here, yet they still land. What are ye names, my innocent little friends?”

  Dotchavitch stood unmoving as the man edged closer until Zelia spoke. “Take one step closer and your men will be without their captain.”

  “Strong words for one so young. Why don’t ye put your toys away and come here?”

  There was a distinct undertone in his voice, and the release of a bowstring echoed through the cave.

  “No!” Zelia dropped her bow, letting the arrow fly where it may as she shoved Dotch to the side, raising a thin wall of ice in front of him and Fifthry. The ice shattered as an arrow struck and Dotch threw himself over her and Fifthry.

  “What do we have here?” the captain’s voice boomed in the cave and Zelia tried to focus on him as she struggled to breathe; her use of fire and ice trying to break her apart.

  “Let me go!” Fifthry screamed.

  Something jerked Zelia up by her arm and flung her amongst the feet of men.

  “Put her with the dragons, she’s worth more than her weight in gold.”

  “Zelia? Zelia, wake up. Come on, Raven will have my scales if you die now.”

  Seabloom’s voice reverberating through her head pulled her back to the present.

  “Seabloom? Where... where are we?”

  “Trapped, in a cage.”

  “What?” She rolled to her feet. “No.”

  In a panic, she banged on the door, only to yelp as a spike of pain ran through her arm, all the way through to her shoulders.

  “Zelia? Zelia, get us out of here,” Dotch’s voice came from just outside the sealed metal cage.

  “I... I can’t,” she spoke through panicked gasps. The dark, a cage. Trapped again. Fear raked through her, the past surging forward to haunt her and pain threatening to push her over the edge.

  “Zelia, just take a deep breath, we’re counting on you.”

  She forced a couple shaky breaths. “Dotch, I can’t... I just can’t go back.”

  “I know you can’t, but right now I need you to freeze that lock as fast as you can so I can break it. Johnol, you and Seabloom get Zelia out of here.”

  “But she can help,” Fifthry protested.

  “I think this will hurt her, you saw how she collapsed. Have Seabloom go under as soon as you get off the boat, then send our dragons back in. The trappers have gone too far this time.”

  “Break it? Doesn’t he think we’ve tried?”

  “Hush Evergreen, it’s not like we have another option.”

  “They could get the key.”

  “Zelia, we have a plan, but we need the dragons,” Dotch said.

  “Just don’t leave me, please.”

  Her hand shook as she pressed it against the metal still warm from the breath of a dragon. The air cooled as the metal froze. There was a sudden bang, and she gasped as the vibration ran through her cracking arm. “Raven…” her own thought vibrated like the voices of the dragons and she sank against the cage wall.

  One, two more bangs and the door opened with a screech. The wild dragons shot past, barely missing her as she sat in a heap by the door.

  “She is the girl of dragon blood, help them as they have helped you,” Raven commanded, a snarl in her tone.

  “Uh, Dotch,” Johnol paused, and she forced her eyes open.

  “I... I’ll be fine,” her voice caught, “it just burns.”

  Her vision was blurry, but she could still make out Dotch and Johnol’s faces as they lifted her onto Seabloom.

  “Get her out of here, I don’t think she could take much more. Go on, we won’t be far behind.”

  “Just be careful,” Johnol said.

  There was a warmth behind her as Johnol climbed on and held her from sliding off. Seabloom snaked through the ship and splashed over the side, just keeping them above water as she went.

  “Zelia.”

  There was a rush of wind as Raven doubled back and left the other dragons to deal with the trappers.

  “She’s like you, isn’t she?” Seabloom asked.

  “Yes. Would you carry her to land, the big hill?”

  “Of course. You go back and help the others.”

  “Thank you, Seabloom.”

  There was a bit of light still left in the sky as they landed back on the hill they had first stopped on.

  “The others?” Zelia asked.

  “They’re right behind us. Is there anything I can do?”

  “Not unless you know how to get Yalif.”

  “Yalif? The god of healing?”

  “He’s not a god, but yes. I’m just going to lie down.”

  “Here.”

  Johnol helped her down from Seabloom and laid her down. The cool grass felt good against her cracked and blistered arm. She only ever blistered when she went from fire to ice, never ice to fire.

  22

  “Why do we always have to get the firewood? Why can’t we get the food?” Sligh and Senth complained.

  “Do you not remember what happened the last time you got the food?” Fifthry questioned.

  Sligh and Senth’s faces showed their disgust and they stamped off down the hill. Fifthry headed down the hill in search of food.

  “Who are they?” Johnol asked.

  “They were being forced to work… still deciding what to do with them. So, how is she doing?” Dotch asked.

  “I don’t know, she hasn’t said a word since she lay down.”

  “Are you alright?” Raven asked.

  “I will be, just need rest.”

  Her thoughts were slow as Raven settled down beside her, chilling her scales from the inside out to sooth Zelia’s skin. The relief from the burns caused her to prop herse
lf up against Raven, so she watched the others, the will to sleep not yet with her.

  “Looks like Raven is taking care of her for now, maybe we should learn what we can?” Johnol gestured towards the boys they had plucked from the crew and Dotch shrugged before descending the few paces down the hill.

  “We were only on that ship for a week, maybe two weeks.” The boy ran his thin fingers through his sun-bleached hair. “I really don’t know. I kind of lost track of the days,” his voice was scratchy with adolescence. “We’re from an island quite a ways north of here. We’re all that’s left of our people. The dragon hunters raided our village for food and supplies. They killed most of our people before dragging us on board to work.”

  “That wasn’t until after they had their way with the women of our village.” The younger boy, maybe fifteen years old and tanned from being in the sun, stared at the grass at his feet. “My brother died trying to protect our mother. I tried to help him, but…” his voice cracked, and he buried his face in his hands, “I... I froze.”

  “There was nothing any of us could’ve done.” The older boy rested a hand on his companion’s shoulder.

  “What of the men of your village?”

  “The dragon hunters claimed they sank their ships. Leaving none alive. But not before they found out where our village was.”

  Dotchavitch nodded and spoke quietly, “A similar story can be told of our village. When I was just an infant, a group of men did the same to our village. Our only saving grace was that one of our ships was at port when they attacked. With a great deal of effort and loss, we drove back the intruders, but not before Fifthry’s mother was taken…” his voice trailed off as Fifthry started up the hill.

  All was quiet around Zelia for a time allowing her to nod off to sleep.

  The dark crept in around her and she shivered.

  “Get up!”

  “What is it this time, oh great wizard Asenten?”

  She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her palm before prying her eyes open to the welcome sight of light. The glow of Asenten’s staff bounced off the damp cave walls in every direction. She knew it was just a dream, but the webs of the past held her all the same. For a moment, she wondered why Rog was blocking her, but her dream pulled her from those thoughts.

  “I said get up! I have something for you.” Asenten pulled a gag from a man’s mouth.

  “Let me go! Who the hell do you think you are?” the bound man spat.

  “He’s a wizard of the guild, a man beyond power. And I’m afraid he will never let you go. Not now that you’ve seen me,” she said sadly, giving the man enough dignity to look him in the eye, to have someone remember him. She always did, she remembered all their faces and their screams.

  “So, what shall it be my dear lad? Tell me the truth and I might let her make it quick,” Asenten said.

  “Her? You’re threatening me with this child?”

  “Please just tell him what he wants, it’s easier for us both that way.” Asenten slammed her to the wall with his staff and she didn’t give even a whimper, she just waited silently for her breath to return.

  “Did I ask you to speak?”

  She shook her head and lowered her gaze.

  “Good, now get your ice stone.” She fell to the ground and snatched the little blue and white speckled stone from the cave floor. Asenten pulled the man to his feet. “Go on, you know what to do.”

  Ice crept around the man’s feet and froze him in place.

  “Release me! You... you monster!”

  He struggled, but the ice didn’t budge. She reached up and took his hand, it was warm to the touch and she wished all she had to do was hold it, let it thaw the ice she used to protect her heart. Then again, the ice around her heart saved some little pieces of her soul. The man shuddered, and his fingertips froze.

  Her dream lurched forward, she had thawed the man, burned him, and frozen him again. Now her palm rested upon his chest as she held back tears.

  “Tell him, and I’ll make it fast. I’ll make sure your soul passes over, no one should have to linger here.”

  “You’re right, no one should be forced to linger here, even you,” he spoke through chattering teeth. “I was wrong, you’re not a monster. He is and don’t let him convince you otherwise.”

  “That’s enough!” Asenten shoved her down. “Finish it!”

  The man gave her a nod with a mix of pity, sympathy, and forgiveness in his eyes.

  “Zelia? Wake up,” a voice whispered through from the present, but she didn’t acknowledge it.

  Someone shook her. “Zelia, you need to wake up.”

  Her eyes flashed open, and she shot up from her half lying position, where she had rolled away from Raven. Pain pulsed through her, and she clasped the tunic across her chest. Blood rushed from her head and she edged towards unconsciousness, her vision going black around the edges. Firm hands grasped her shoulders and kept her upright.

  “Are you alright? You weren’t breathing.”

  She shook her head against her spinning world. Johnol’s expression twisted.

  “How often does that happen?” he asked.

  “It’s only happened once, but I’ve not been alone much since then.”

  She rubbed at her arm, then remembered the burns.

  “Thank you for waking me up.”

  Zelia rocked to her feet and walked away. She wasn’t ready to share the reality of her past. She could feel Johnol’s gaze boring into her back, as he explained what happened to Dotchavitch.

  She plopped down on the side of the hill and watched as Johnol stood brushing himself off. Dotchavitch rested his hand on Johnol’s shoulder and she zoned out, unable to focus on any one thing.

  She was so out of it she didn’t notice Johnol’s approach until he was only a few meters away.

  “Mind if I join you?” She just shook her head, and he sat down beside her. “Here, I brought you some rabbit.”

  They ate in silence as they watched the long shadows of their friends flicker from the light of the fire.

  “Why didn’t you just tell us? I mean, about your heart?”

  “I wasn’t sure and can’t let myself seem weak, or have others care about me.”

  “What?” His head snapped towards her. “Why?”

  “It only makes it harder to leave. Besides, people who care are more likely to get hurt trying to protect me… Sometimes I wish I could just disappear to a place where there’s no one I could hurt.”

  “Zelia, we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”

  “You’re right. You wouldn’t have found those men if it weren’t for me. Your lives wouldn’t have been in danger if I hadn’t come here.”

  “Then we wouldn’t have found those two boys down there.” He pointed towards the light of the campfire below them. “I, for one, am glad to have met you and nothing will change that.”

  “You already show that you would do something foolish for me.” She turned away and used her hair to hide her face. “I don’t want anyone putting themselves in danger for me.”

  Johnol moved to where he could look her in the eye. “That’s not your choice to make.”

  “It should be.” She turned away from him with her arms crossed, the urge to slouch gnawed at her as the steel plate in her chest held her straight. “I’m the one who’ll be haunted by your decisions for millennia, or however long I’m cursed to stay here.”

  “I have a feeling you know good and well just how big of a difference one act can make to change the course of the future. You need to learn to accept what others choose to do for you.”

  She couldn’t believe she was hearing this from such a young human, but a tinge of sadness still rose from deep within her and she muttered under her breath, “And if I can’t?”

  “You have to, or you’ll always be fighting with yourself over what others do. Now, we should go join the others and get some rest.” He stood and offered her a hand. She reluctantly took it, and he hauled her to
her feet.

  She followed him down the hill. The eyes of the two young boys they had picked up earlier that day followed her.

  “Can either of you explain why those two,” Dotch pointed to two green dragons that sat by themselves, “scooped you out of the water and followed us?”

  “I… well, I don’t know.”

  Zelia could tell Dotch wasn’t trying to accuse the boys, but she wasn’t sure that they understood that he was just trying to decide if they were a threat or not. She hadn’t noticed the two new dragons before, but she was sure Raven had already approved them.

  “Maybe it’s because we were the ones who fed the dragons. Those two are the only ones who didn’t try to eat us.”

  “How long were they on the ship?” Dotch asked.

  “They and one of the other dragons were there when they took us.”

  “Well, since Raven and Stardust haven’t chased them off yet, they should be safe enough. Are you both alright with riding them on the way back to our island?”

  “We can go with you?”

  “If they’ll let you ride. We’re too far out for us to double up for the ride home, but I don’t plan on leaving you.”

  “We have to ride them? Like you do?”

  “If you want to get off this island. That said, riding is much more fun than dangling from their claws.”

  The boys shared a nervous glance with one another before nodding. With that settled, the others went straight into debating who would take first watch.

  “I’ll take first watch,” Zelia said.

  Dotchavitch stared at her, surprised by her offer. “No, you need to rest.”

  “I won’t be able to sleep for a while either way. You should all rest while you can.”

  They all stared at her, questions showing on all their faces. Do I appear that tired?

  “My heart is still offbeat.”

  “What?” Dotch asked.

  “I… I told you that Yargo took me in as one of his children, but I didn’t explain why.” She fiddled with a blade of grass, not sure how to continue. “Actually, I don’t know why he took me in like that. He came to save me at Rogath’s request and there was an explosion. I used ice to block the blast from hitting Yargo and his men, but…” she trailed off, not wanting to relive those moments of agony. “I have pieces of metal and rock in my chest. They affect my heart. So, I can’t go back to sleep until it’s at least closer to what it should be.” They still stared at her and she rolled her eyes, trying to brush off the topic of her heart. “Or would you all rather sit here debating all night and no one get any rest?”