by A. J. Medina
I held both arms down at my side and stared into the dragon’s fiery eyes.
“I’m not that weak girl you met that night in the square,” I told him.
My eyes blazed with power and all three flames stopped their assault and turned their attention to the dragon. As the flames approached him, he tried to make them obey him, but he couldn’t. The flames would not turn and they surrounded him. In a whirlwind, the three flames encircled him like a storm. He was trapped.
“You are powerful. I can see that, but my armor is impermeable to fire. You’re wasting your time.”
My eyes continued to cast a blue hue around us. “At least I have your attention. The wizard has sent me to you.”
“Which wizard?”
“Agbavitor.”
“Why has he not come himself?”
“He has fallen at the hands of The Apprentice.”
“Release me,” the dragon wizard said.
“Do you promise not to attack us?”
“I do.”
“Don’t trust him Alora,” Aednat said.
“We must. He’s why we’re here.”
I allowed the flames to release him, but when I tried to extinguish them, they wouldn’t go out.
“Dragon’s breath. Only I can extinguish it.”
The dragon snapped his claws and the flames vanished.
“Snapped your fingers, just like the wizard used to do,” I said.
“Who do you think taught him that? Agbavitor has fallen? Sad news indeed. And why has he sent you to me?”
“For you to teach me how to use my powers.”
“You seem proficient enough.”
“With fire, aye, soaring somewhat, but that seems to be the extent of my powers. Although I did heal the... someone.”
“Healing powers? Powerful indeed. You may enter my home.”
He spread his wings and prepared to lift off.
“Wait!” I shouted. “Two of my group are left down below.”
“Not strong enough to make the climb? What kind of knights are they?”
“One is my maiden. She isn’t accustomed to doing things like this. I left one of my knights with her as protection.”
“Hah,” the dragon wizard mocked. “No one is dumb enough to come out this far. And those that would, one knight would be no match for.”
The dragon wizard huffed, smoke billowing out of the side of his mouth. His eyes flashed red and the ground underneath our feet shook. When the ground stopped shaking, the dragon wizard looked over the edge and a smile crossed his snout. “They’re on their way up.”
I shuffled my feet to the edge and squinted my eyes, trying to see clearly over the edge. It was a long way down. When I noticed the two shapes running up the steps, I backed away from the edge as fast as possible and nodded to the dragon.
“Wait for them if you wish, and then come inside,” he said.
The dragon wizard didn’t wait for an answer. Instead he spread his wings, flew up into the air and over his castle walls. The gate into the castle rose and we waited for Neala and Thomas to arrive before going in.
We walked under the arch that led into the castle and once we had passed the gate it came crashing down.
Inside was a vast open area and the walls were in ruins inside of the castle as well. It seemed the only walls that still stood, at least somewhat, were the walls that protected him from the outside courtyard.
A whoosh came from above and then the dragon wizard landed with a boom. “It is late. You may set up camp here. I will return soon. You may call me Draycko.”
Before I could even ask him where he was going, he lifted up and flew high into the sky.
“You heard him. Let’s set up the tents,” Aednat said. “I’m ready to eat and sleep. Neala... food.”
“Don’t be rude, Aednat,” Davina told her.
Looks like Neala had someone else coming to her defense besides me. It was nice not having to tell Aednat to shut it.
After we all finished setting up our tents and eating the stew Neala had prepared for us, I pulled out my journal and began to write down what had occurred today.
When I was done writing down all that had occurred, I watched Thomas and Davina as they sat by the fire in the center of the camp.
Thomas and Davina seemed to have become close during our short journey. I’m not quite sure how I feel about that. It seems much too soon. Tessa didn’t die that long ago.
Ugh... boys. How can he replace her so easily?
I stared into the fire and started to wonder if Silas had forgotten about me already, when I realized how stupid I was being. How could Silas forget me? He was locked up in the dungeon with nothing but his thoughts to keep him company.
I was worrying again about things that weren’t really there. But when I lifted my head again, I knew I was right. At least about Thomas and Davina. Davina was busy twirling her hair. Hair that had somehow come loose from its braid.
Maybe she was trying not to remind Thomas of Tessa with her braid. It didn’t matter. I was becoming annoyed by her actions.
Davina laughed. Thomas must have said something funny. I wasn’t paying attention to his words. Davina scooted herself closer to Thomas and tapped him on the shoulder. I felt like screaming.
I couldn’t get involved in their budding romance. It wasn’t my place. Sure I was in charge, but I didn’t feel it was my place to tell people who they could and couldn’t have a relationship with.
I stood and dusted myself off.
“Where are you going?” Thomas asked as I walked past them to where there should be a wall, but wasn’t.
“Just to the edge to look over it.”
“It’s pretty high,” Davina reminded me.
Like I needed to be reminded of that. “Aye, it is,” I said, and then kept walking.
I stepped to the edge of Draycko’s castle and carefully peered over it. The potion of dark to light had worn off and since the clouds hid the moon, and it was too far to the ground, I couldn’t see anything down below. I imagined what it would be like to fall into that pitch blackness and if I would actually hit the ground or would I end up in some sort of imaginary land or another kingdom.
Mother used to tell me such fantasies when I was younger. Bedtime stories consisted of those plus knight’s tales. Was it any wonder that I wanted to join the king’s army when he called for volunteers? Mother shouldn’t have been surprised.
My thoughts then shifted to Silas sitting in his cage under the palace. He must be afraid. I wondered if they had beaten him again. And what must they have said when they saw him with his hair grown back?
“Oh no,” I whispered, and then covered my mouth. I hadn’t thought of it until right that second. The king would know that I had visited him before I left. How would I explain it to King Remi when I returned to the castle city?
My thoughts were interrupted when I noticed movement from above. The moon was high in the sky, covered by clouds, but they must have moved enough to let some of its light through. I could make out cloud shapes due to the moonlight. They were drifting across the sky. I wondered how high that must be and what it must be like being as high as the moon.
So high that I wouldn’t even know what to do if I was that high. Would I freeze, unable to move out of fear? I couldn’t let that happen. My fears must be conquered. They must be if I’m to be a great wizard.
I’m not blind, I’ve noticed the things happening around me when I get angry. When I lose control of myself. The fact that I have these new powers is scary to me and I’m glad I haven’t lost too much control. Like with Aednat. That situation in the forest. I didn’t even realize what I was doing or how I did it. All I know was that she made me angry and my body reacted.
Control. That’s what I need... control.
Hopefully, Draycko will be able to teach it to me along with as much as he is willing to share.
Just when I decided that I would talk to him about it, I was practically blown over the edg
e by a gust of wind followed by its howl.
When I heard the flapping of wings, I knew the wind wasn’t created naturally.
I was expecting another whoosh and a boom, but it didn’t come.
“You look deep in thought,” Draycko said as he landed gently by my side, his wings kicking up dirt and gusts of wind.
I covered my eyes and leaned into the wind. “Just thinking of... of Ly’vera.”
“Must be serious. You remind me of Agbavitor when he used to visit and he was contemplating something big.”
“The wizard would visit you? He would trek this long journey?” I asked.
“Aye and nay. I would fly over and meet him. From there he would ride on my shoulders back here and we would have conversations. Sometimes he would even ask my advice.”
“I didn’t know you two were close.”
“Not as close as we used to be, but still close, I would say.”
“You used to be closer?”
“Aye.”
“And what happened?”
“Ask the king.”
“I’m asking you.”
“I don’t like this conversation. I choose not to continue it any longer.”
“But—”
Draycko’s eyes burned with flames.
I stopped talking.
I peered over the side again to test my resolve. It was these little tests of courage that allowed me to become less fearful about high places. At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
“What are you looking for?” Draycko asked.
“Just... just looking.”
Draycko stomped over to the edge and looked down at the darkness below.
He studied it, trying to imagine what I could possibly be looking for and then turned back to me with a curious look on his face.
A smirk appeared on his dragon lips. “Would you like to go for a ride?”
A ride? Was he serious? “Nay, I’m fine here.”
“You haven’t lived until you’ve flown. Come with me, it’ll be fun,” Draycko said, and then he got down on all fours and lay on his stomach. “Come, straddle my neck by my head. You can hold onto my horns.”
“Nay, but thank you for the offer.”
Draycko rolled onto his side and propped himself up on one elbow. “You aren’t scared, are you?”
I looked out into the night. “Nay. I’m just... tired. I think I’ll go see how the others are doing.”
“Nonsense,” Draycko said, and then with one swing of his tail knocked me over the edge.
Chapter 17
Silas lay on the floor of his dungeon cell staring at the ceiling. One arm rested behind his head and one knee was bent with his foot flat on the floor. He believed it had been a few days since Alora came to visit him and said goodbye, but he wasn’t sure exactly how many days had passed. Down in the dungeon, with no way of seeing the sun rise and set, one could never be sure.
The servant that would bring him his food, appeared at the same time every day. It could’ve been morning or it could’ve been evening, Silas didn’t which. It didn’t help that they only fed him once a day and that the meal consisted of a mug of water and some bread. Bread and water wasn’t enough for him to keep his strength up.
Silas moved his arm from behind his head and slid his hand through his hair, the hair Alora made grow back. When the servant came in with his meal, and saw that his hair had grown back, he ran and told the guard.
The guard had asked for an explanation of how his hair had grown back and how his wounds had healed. Silas came up with an excuse, blaming it on the residual effects of the magic potion.
The guard seemed satisfied for the time being. Surely he would report back to the king.
Silas’ stomach growled in protest. He was so hungry. He craved a full meal. One with potatoes and gravy, and sweet bread, and goat cheese and all of the other fantastic tasting foods he’d been denied since he was thrown in his cell.
When the gate to the dungeon squealed, Silas jumped to his feet. It was time for his meal, he hoped.
“I’ll take this to him, return to your duties,” he heard a familiar voice say. The speaker of those words was not yet in view, but he knew who it was. Silas looked around his cell for a weapon, for anything he could use, just in case, but there was nothing. He thought himself a fool. Of course there would be no weapons in his cell, he was a prisoner.
When King Remi finally entered the dungeon and walked to Silas’ cell carrying the bread and water, Silas waited, wondering what the king would do. Was he there to give him the news that it was time? Time for Silas to pay for his treason.
King Remi passed the mug of water and the bread between the cell bars.
Silas greedily took them and quickly alternated between chewing the bread and drinking from the mug. He barely chewed, so the bread would get stuck in his throat and he needed the water to force it down.
“Slow down, Apprentice. You’ll choke if you don’t,” King Remi said.
“So you care about my fate now, do you?” Silas said sarcastically.
“I’ve always cared about your fate. That’s why I gave you such a great mission.”
Silas chewed his bread, eyeing the king with hate filled eyes.
“So tell me, what of the other kingdoms?” King Remi asked.
Silas washed down his last bite with a drink from his mug and then answered the king. “They are under my control.”
“So you did as you were told then? You killed the other kings?”
Silas wondered if he should tell him the truth or tell him what he wanted to hear. Silas may have been young, may have been an apprentice, but he learned much during his time under Agbavitor. He learned how to manipulate and tell others what they wanted to hear so that they would do what he wanted. That’s what the king was trying to do to him.
Silas decided. “Aye. All the kings are dead,” but Silas couldn’t resist, “and you are the last and the next.”
The king smirked. “I wish I would’ve known it was you.”
“How would you? You barely spoke to me when I was Agbavitor’s apprentice, and even as a knightly, you barely did. You only spoke to me when you needed my help and when you asked me to deceive Agbavitor. You said he was your friend.”
“He was, but he would never understand. He wouldn’t allow me to take over the realm. He was much too kind hearted to do what was necessary. The realm had to want me to take it over. That’s why this plan would have worked if you didn’t betray it... betray me.”
“You’re evil. You don’t deserve to be king.”
“Deserve? No one deserves anything. My father and his father before him both worked for what they wanted.”
“Don’t you mean robbed and murdered?”
“Careful, Apprentice. I told Alora I would keep you alive for a time. Don’t force me to make that time end now.”
Silas stood quiet. Alora and the king had discussed him. Did she plead for his life? Is that why he was still alive?
He hoped she didn’t do that. That could put her on the king’s bad side.
The king held out his hand and Silas returned the empty mug to him. For a second Silas wished the king had forgotten about the mug. It could’ve been used as a weapon under the right circumstances.
King Remi turned to walk away, but stopped mid step and asked the question Silas hoped he wouldn’t.
“How did your hair return and your wounds heal?”
Silas was sure the guard had told the king the excuse, but he told him the same thing regardless. “It must’ve been a residual effect of the magic potion.”
“I find that hard to believe,” King Remi said.
“Why is that?” Silas asked.
“Residual magic? This would be the first time I’ve heard of such a thing. And why would you use it to grow your hair back instead of escaping?”
“I had no control over it. It sort of just... happened.”
Silas wished his answer was enough for the king, but he doubted
it. The king was no fool. He simply hoped that the king wouldn’t blame Alora, or see her act as a betrayal. If he did, then she would be in danger.
King Remi continued to study Silas as if he could command the truth out of him, but Silas stuck to his answer. Silas would not betray Alora.
“Very well, then. Perhaps a few days without bread will make you tell me how it really happened.”
“Nay, Your Majesty. Please!”
“Enjoy your days of water... Apprentice.”
The king walked towards the exit and Silas grabbed the cell bars, pushed and pulled on them, and then yelled for mercy. “Have mercy, please! Your Majesty, please! Please, Your Majesty! Please!”
But the king just walked out, ignoring his cries.
And it was a good thing the king left, Silas realized. Because for an instant, Silas’ eyes flashed and lit up the dungeon.
Chapter 18
It all happened so fast. I was simply talking to Draycko and was about to walk away from the edge when I saw his enormous tail coming directly at me.
I twisted, flipped and turned through the air until my body found some sort of balance. There was nothing but darkness as I fell. I wasn’t ready, but now would have to be the time I tested how high I could fall and still stop my decent. If it was anything like on the battlefield, the energy would cause the ground to shift and send anyone that was down below flying off their feet. From the height of Draycko’s castle, the blast would probably end up destroying part of the forest.
And then it occurred to me. The ground was too far for me to see it and since I couldn’t see the ground, how could I possibly prepare to fire at it. I could send a fireball down at the trees, but I might kill any animals that lived in them and I didn’t want to kill any innocent creatures. I was doomed.
After falling for what seemed like an eternity, I noticed two balls of fire coming straight at me. All I could hear was the wind whooshing by as I fell at top speed, so I didn’t hear him coming.
Draycko matched my falling speed and his fireball eyes looked up at me. Closing the distance between the two of us, I landed on his neck.
“Hold on!” Draycko shouted.
I grabbed onto his horns and locked my fingers in place.
