by Eric Vall
“Oh, we have the perfect place for them,” River said with a malicious grin.
“I do have one other favor to ask of you, Lord Evan,” Mona said as she looked down.
“Name it,” I replied. I was curious what else the centaurs needed.
“I’ll explain on the way back,” she answered and waved to the rest of the group to begin walking back up the hill.
Well, this should be interesting.
Chapter 11
We trudged down the hill and away from the Green Glass Sect’s demolished camp as the moon rose higher up into the sky. River carried Alyona on his back, and Mona carried her son on hers. The two warriors who were in charge of Cesar were ahead of us on the path back to Lumin. Ravi, Aaliyah, and the dryads walked together behind River, while Nike and Laika brought up the rear behind the queen and me.
Mona hadn’t talked about what was on her mind yet, and I started to wonder if we were going to have to kill some other random creature for her.
“So, what else is going on?” I prodded the silent queen.
Mona hesitated as she walked next to me, so I gave her a moment to answer.
“It seems silly compared to everything else you’ve done for us,” she finally mumbled.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied with a shrug. “Like I said, we want the city to be where it needs to be, so if something is keeping Lumin from that, let’s fix it.”
“Well, we used to rely on the Solas to surround Lumin, but they’ve disappeared,” the queen explained. “It isn’t fair to call them guards or something. We have the Sagittarius Order for that, but the Solas are more like a link between us and the outside world.”
“Uh, what are Solas?” I questioned. I’d never heard of them before.
“Solas are pure creatures of the light,” Polina chimed in from in front of us.
“They reject anything and anyone that isn’t pure,” Trina added over her shoulder.
“Yeah, they’re kind of like phoenixes in their purity, but they’re much tinier,” Marina giggled.
“The dryads are correct,” Mona agreed. “The Solas used to stay along our walls and tell us when someone without pure intentions approached. They also kept us in touch with the outside world.”
“So, that’s why everyone is so behind here?” I finally had my answer to the Lumin citizens’ isolation.
“Yes,” the queen confirmed as she pursed her lips. “We haven’t had the Solas to keep us updated with the rest of the world, and with the limits I’d placed on travel, no one could venture out either.”
“Okay, but where are they?” I questioned.
“I was hoping you could find that out,” Mona admitted. “I thought maybe they’d been kidnapped as well, but when you found the other captives, River said the Solas weren’t there.”
“So, they disappeared at the same time the kidnappings started?” I clarified.
“Well, they actually vanished a few weeks before that,” Mona sighed. “I just thought they were the first ones to get taken.”
“But they weren’t … ” I trailed off as I considered the possibilities. What were the chances of another kidnapping monster living in the forest? Probably pretty slim. “Why do the Solas guard Lumin?”
“Um,” Mona hummed and tugged on her braid. “My mother said they’re duty bound to do it. I’m not sure why.”
“Interesting,” I mused. “Well, do they have their own homes? Where are they when they’re not guarding the city?”
“I’m not sure,” the queen murmured, and a blush rose to her tan cheeks. “I never asked.”
“Solas usually have a village,” Marina piped up.
“Yeah,” Polina agreed. “They like trees.”
“But they have to have access to sunlight,” Marina added.
“That makes sense,” Mona said as her tail flicked with agitation. “The only problem is I have no idea where to start.”
“We could help,” Trina suggested. “Solas have similar magic to dryads. We should be able to sense them.”
“Good idea!” Marina cheered and clapped her hands. “We can search first thing tomorrow.”
“As long as Alyona is up for it,” I decided with a nod. “When it comes to magical beings, I’d like to have her around.”
“I can have the physician look her over when we get back,” Mona offered. “We may have something that can help her recover quickly.”
“We should at least get her to the medical area,” I agreed. “I don’t know that any of your remedies will help since I already tried to use my healing magic, but it can’t hurt to try.”
“Very well,” Mona replied as she dipped her chin.
That seemed to be the end of our conversation, so I stepped back to walk even with Nike and Laika.
“What do you think about what Gavin said?” I murmured to the pair.
“About there being more of the Sect hiding out?” Laika asked as her gray, bushy tail flicked behind her. “I was hoping we’d get back to that.”
“We’re going to have to search the forest again before we leave,” Nike answered as he brushed his black hair off his forehead. “We can’t leave the centaurs to fend for themselves against both the assassins and whatever traps they’ve laid.”
“Agreed.” I nodded. “We handle this missing fairy thing first, and then we can go clear the forest for them.”
The two warriors dipped their heads in agreement.
Now, we had two more missions to complete in the centaurs’ city.
We definitely had our work cut out for us.
After about an hour, we arrived back at the gates to Lumin. Several centaurs cheered as we walked down the road to the castle with the prince and the traitor, and some of the men threw food or spat at Cesar as we passed them by.
It seemed word had gotten around about Cesar’s betrayal.
Moments later, we arrived at the castle doors, and River pushed them open. Dozens of centaurs waited in the sitting area, and they rushed into action as soon as we entered the building.
“Your Highness!”
“We have dinner prepared!”
“How was the journey?”
“Quiet!” Mona ordered in an authoritative tone. “I’m taking my son to the infirmary. Then, we will eat. I’m sure my party is famished.”
“I feel like I could eat a cow,” Aaliyah groaned as she licked her blood-stained lips.
My own stomach grumbled in agreement.
“I’ll take Alyona and go to the infirmary with you,” I told the queen as I ignored my noisy stomach.
I slid the princess off River’s back and into my arms, and I cradled her sleeping form carefully as I followed Mona to another wing of the palace.
We entered a room that stunk of cleaning solution and puke. I wasn’t sure if I could smell everything because of my dragon senses, but so far, it was my least favorite part of the castle. About a dozen beds lined two walls of the room, and their stark white sheets stood out against the dark gray stone walls. A few tables were scattered here and there, and many of them held medical instruments on top. Some tools I recognized, like stethoscopes and tongue depressors, but a few pieces were new to me. Then I thought maybe the items I didn’t recognize were like tools a veterinarian would use, since the centaurs were half horse.
Just then, a centaur in human form briskly entered from a side door, noticed us standing in the middle of the room, and nearly dropped his clipboard.
“Your Highness!” he gasped. “And the prince! I-I didn’t realize you’d returned. Please, lay him down here.”
The centaur wore a long, sapphire-colored robe that matched his blue eyes, which were focused on Archer. His dirty blonde hair was cut short and stuck out in all directions from his head, and his skin was surprisingly pale, probably because he spent more time indoors than the other centaurs we’d seen so far. He gestured to the bed nearest the door he’d entered and helped Mona slide Archer onto it. Then he pulled a variety of instruments out of a desk dr
awer to check on the boy’s vitals.
While the doctor worked on the boy, I walked over to the bed next to Archer’s and gently laid Alyona down. She moaned and rolled to her side, so I pushed the hair out of her face and pulled the blanket from the foot of the bed to spread over her body.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” The centaur fumbled with his clipboard again before he finally set it down on a table. “You must be Lord Evan! Is this Princess Alyona?”
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“I apologize for my manners,” he said with a deep bow. “My name is Finn, and I’m the physician for Lumin.”
“Nice to meet you, Finn,” I answered and dipped my head to the doctor.
“Likewise,” he replied. “Now, what can I do for the princess?”
“She used her energy for magic, so she needs to rest,” I explained. “The queen thought you might be able to help speed up her recovery.”
“Hmm,” Finn hummed and rubbed his chin. “I bet one of my teas would be beneficial. No medicine will help, but some amla tea with ginseng should aid her in regaining her energy.”
Finn hustled out the side door into what looked like a storage room, and within minutes, he returned with a steaming cup that smelled a little fruity.
I gently lifted Alyona to a sitting position, and her amethyst eyes opened briefly as she gave me a weak smile.
“Here, princess,” I said as I took the cup from Finn. “Drink this.”
I lifted the steaming drink to her lips and tilted it slowly into her mouth. The warm liquid poured down her throat, and she closed her eyes with relief.
“It’s working, doc,” I murmured to Finn.
“Doc?” The centaur quirked a brow.
“Ah, never mind,” I chuckled and refocused on Alyona.
The princess finished the tea, and I set the cup on the table as she slid back down into the bed. Then I looked over at Mona and Archer. The queen spoke quietly to her son, who looked up at her with a smile.
I was glad the boy would be okay.
Then I remembered who had caused his pain, and a growl bubbled in my chest. I wanted to fucking murder Cesar. That bastard had kidnapped an innocent kid, and I would find out why.
“Go relax, my love,” Alyona whispered and brought my attention back to the room.
“I hate to leave you,” I murmured as I ran my fingers through her hair.
“You need to eat and rest as well,” my bride-to-be assured me as she kissed my wrist. “Go enjoy the meal. You can come tell me goodnight later.”
“Well … ” My stomach growled again as if to agree with her, and I frowned. “I guess I can go eat a little, but I’ll be right back in here if you need me.”
“I know.” Alyona smiled. “Go.”
I leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead, and I noticed her skin was already regaining some color. Then I left the infirmary and returned to the sitting room where the rest of my friends waited.
“How is she?” Laika asked as soon as I entered the room.
“Much better,” I replied, and the wolf Demi-Human sagged with relief. “It turns out the centaurs have some fancy herbal tea that works wonders.”
“Ah, Finn and his teas,” River chuckled. “How is Archer?”
“Finn seemed to be satisfied with all his vitals,” I answered. “It looks like he’s just fine.”
Now, everyone sighed with relief.
“Well then, let’s eat!” River pumped a fist into the air and led the group to the dining hall where a feast was already laid out on the long table.
I surveyed the food as my women filled their plates first. A copious number of yellow and green fruits were sliced and laid in bowls next to cubed melons. The cinnamon-flavored meat slices were piled high on one plate beside small baked birds on skewers. The aroma of the cooked meat made my stomach growl again, and I reached for a plate to pile high with food. Once my plate was stacked with fruits and meats, I plopped down into a chair and began to shovel the food into my mouth. The juicy fruit felt like an explosion on my tongue, and I tried to savor every bite.
“So,” I spoke to River after I swallowed a mouthful of food, “what do you know about the Solas?”
“What?” River nearly spat his food back onto his plate before he turned to me. “The queen told you about them?”
“Yeah,” I confirmed with a raised eyebrow. “She asked if we could help find them. She said they disappeared right before the kidnappings started.”
“They did,” the centaur commander said. “I have no idea where to find them, though. I figured they decided they didn’t want to look out for us anymore.”
“I doubt it,” Polina answered as she nibbled on a cubed melon. “Solas are very faithful.”
“Yeah,” Marina agreed, and her green brow furrowed. “They wouldn’t bail on their duties like that.”
“Ah,” River said with a frown. “Then, yes, we should find them.”
“That is the plan for tomorrow, then,” I replied before I turned to the dryads. “Girls, where should we start the search?”
“I’d say probably in the centaurs’ hunting forest,” Trina offered.
“What about the basilisk and skyraptor?” I frowned. “You don’t think they scared the Solas off?”
“Oh, no,” Marina giggled. “Solas use their magic to disguise their villages. I’d bet we already passed it a couple times.”
“But we weren’t looking for it, so we wouldn’t have noticed.” Polina shrugged.
“Okay, so we start there first thing tomorrow,” I decided. “Anything in particular we can look for to help you?”
“Not really,” Trina answered. “Of course, you could try out some of your terra magic.”
“I still don’t know what that is,” I laughed. “Ravi told me I have it, but I have no idea how to access it.”
“The same way you get to the rest of your magic, silly,” Ravi chimed in and cast me a smile. “You link it to your spiritual sea. You have some sort of land when you meditate there, right?”
“I guess?” I said as I pictured my spiritual sea and the sandy beach that touched it. Then I realized that further in my mind’s eye, there was still more land beyond the beach. “Yeah, I guess there’s some grass and mountains next to the beach.”
“See!” the phoenix said with excitement. “You do have terra magic!”
“That’s great news!” Marina clasped her hands together.
“You should explore it tonight,” Polina encouraged me as she bounced in her seat. “The better you know the land there, the better you can use your magic here.”
“If you say so,” I chuckled as I forked another bite of meat into my mouth.
“You are a surprising dragon, Lord Evan,” River said as he tilted his head to the side. “Nothing like the stories.”
“Told ya.” I grinned.
We finished our meal, and there was barely any food left on the table when we were done. As we pushed back our chairs, several centaurs hustled into the room and began to clear away the plates.
“I think I’m going to bathe and go to bed, Lord Evan,” Aaliyah said with a very cat-like yawn. “It seems like it might be another long day tomorrow.”
“Sounds good,” I murmured and kissed her on the cheek, and I chuckled as her long, golden tail twitched in delight at my touch.
Then I remembered her response to my playing with her tail, and my trousers tightened across my hips.
Aaliyah noticed my situation and giggled.
“I’d invite you to join me, but I think you have some meditation to do,” she teased and sashayed away.
I growled and watched her tight ass sway from side to side as she left the room.
“Don’t worry, Lord Evan,” Trina chirped. “We can go keep the beautiful lioness company.”
“We definitely can!” Marina giggled. “We’ll spend the evening talking about how much we wish you were with us.”
“Especially with the Lady Aaliyah.” Polina winked.
“Yeah, yeah,” I snickered as the dryads linked arms and skipped after Aaliyah.
While I desperately wanted to join my lovers in the bath house, Aaliyah was right. If I wanted to be able to use my terra magic tomorrow, I had to meditate tonight.
I trudged out of the dining hall and headed for the palace doors. I figured the best place to access my magic would be somewhere outdoors, so I walked outside and turned toward the fields by the history keepers’ temple. It wasn’t the forest, but there weren’t many people who lived out there, and I could find some peace and quiet.
Within minutes, I arrived at the edge of the fields and looked around. The moonlight illuminated the rows of sprouting crops and flowers, and there was no one else in sight.
Perfect.
I sat cross-legged a few feet off the road and closed my eyes. Every time I cultivated, it took less and less time to get to my spiritual sea, and this time it was almost instantaneous. Only moments after I closed my eyes, I was sitting on the beach in my mind and could see the waves that lapped at the shore.
“It’s good to see you again, Lord Evan,” Miraya purred as she walked through the sand next to me.
The spirit of the Sword of Hatra wore a long, white dress that hugged her curvaceous body and was low enough to reveal the swells of her breasts. Her white-blonde hair was so long it grazed the sand as she glided toward me, and she didn’t leave behind footprints on the sand.
“You, too, Miraya.” I grinned and stood up.
I turned and surveyed the area behind me. The sand was interrupted by sprouts of dark green grass, and then the grass took over the landscape as it grew up the side of a large mountain. The mountain stood tall, and a circle of clouds surrounded its peak.
“What can I do for you, my lord?” Miraya questioned after a moment.
“What do you know about terra magic?” I asked the spirit.
“Not much,” she admitted. “None of my previous masters had it.”
“Well, looks like we’re just going to have to see how this goes,” I said with a shrug and began my hike to the mountain.
Miraya walked with me as we stepped onto the dewy grass, and it seemed heavier under my feet, more like moss than grass. I wasn’t sure how far to go, but I figured it would feel like the right place when we got there.
