by A. J. Medina
Were they just a dream as well?
The room was dark.
Sure that a sword hadn’t run through my chest, I sat up. With a flick of my wrist, the room’s candles came to life. I now knew where I was. Silas’ chambers.
But Silas was nowhere to be found. The last thing I remembered was taking Silas’ goblet and then I didn’t feel well.
How much time had passed? I wondered. And where was Silas?
I tossed off the furs and swung my legs off the side of the bed. My feet didn’t quite reach the floor. I stared at them and spread my toes. They felt tight. As a matter of fact my whole body felt tight. How long had I been asleep?
When I finally stood, my legs felt like I hadn’t stood on them in a long time. They protested, but I was able to maintain my balance.
I rotated and swung my arms from my shoulders, loosening up my joints. I flexed at the elbows and then squatted and stood. When I felt content, or at least somewhat satisfied that my muscles were warmed up, I opened my closet and retrieved my second skin.
After laying it on the bed, I lifted off my sleep shirt and then slid my second skin on and said, “Apta Magnitudine.” It shrunk to fit my body and then I slid on my boots, then my winter cloak, and left in search of Silas and the others.
As I walked down the empty passageway I couldn’t help but feel worried. Sure it was late so they were probably all sleeping, but the silence, the eerie silence, just felt... wrong.
Neala?
I had to find Neala. Was Neala alright? Dread filled my mind. Was everyone alright? Were we attacked in the middle of the night and everyone killed?
Nay, that wasn’t possible. If they had been killed there would be bodies lying about.
I anxiously walked toward Neala’s room. Walking was taking forever so I sped up my pace. My legs screamed at me for that. The burning started at my calves and rose up to my thighs, but I forged on until I was actually running. Panic set in and I summoned my armor. The weight of it was too much and forced me to stop.
I dispersed my armor and started walking again.
I reached out to Neala’s door and was about to push it open when I heard something. The sound came from inside. It sounded like a low scream.
I knew she was in trouble.
I summoned my sword and prepared myself. Its weight dragged my arm down. I wouldn’t be able to swing it, so I dispersed it and replaced it with my dagger. It would have to do.
When I pushed the door in, I charged forward into the dim candlelit room.
Thomas was startled and rolled off the bed, reaching for his sword.
“Nay, don’t!” Neala yelled at him. “It’s only Alora.”
Thomas stood covering himself with his hands. I lowered my dagger to my side, surprised by what I was seeing.
Neala took hold of a pillow and placed it in front of Thomas to help him cover himself better. He took it and held it in place.
I could feel my face getting warm. I knew it had to be red as a tomato.
So Thomas and Neala were together. How long had I been asleep?
“You’re awake? How do you feel?” Neala asked.
She climbed out of bed and put on her dress.
“I feel fine. Except my muscles feel weaker.”
“As they should. You’ve been in bed for two weeks.”
“Two weeks?” I almost gasped. “What happened?”
“You fell ill. Poison.”
“Poison?”
“Aye. Someone poisoned Silas’ goblet.”
“Who did?”
“We don’t know.”
“Poison. Someone tried to poison Silas and I drank it instead? What if that person’s still here?”
“We are being extra careful. Davina found a cure. It required... something special. We hoped you would awaken soon, but you didn’t.”
“So I owe my life to Davina?”
“Aye and one other.”
When she was finished getting dressed, Neala raced over and threw her arms around me—the heat emanated from her body. I dispersed my dagger and wrapped my arms around her. When she broke our embrace, she turned to Thomas. “Get dressed and meet us outside.”
“Are you taking her to him?” he asked.
“Aye.”
“To Silas?” I asked.
“To Lucah.”
I felt a smile creep onto my face. “Where is everyone? Why is it so quiet and... it feels like if everyone disappeared.”
“Silas and some knights have left to discuss another one of his plans with some of his captains outside of the castle and Lucah is outside practicing. Everyone gives him a wide berth in case he crashes.”
“Crashes?”
“You’ll see.”
“Neala tell me.”
“I think it’s better if you see for yourself. Come.”
I waved goodbye to Thomas who was still standing there covering himself with a pillow. He waved back and if it wasn’t so dim in the room I’d swear his face was as red as mine.
Neala threw on her winter cloak and led me out into the cold night air.
When we reached the square the sun was just beginning to rise. Some of the castle’s children were all looking up. I looked up to see what it was they were watching, but when I didn’t see anything I went back to surveying the area.
“When will Silas be back?” I asked Neala.
“He left last night. He should be back tomorrow.”
That’s when I heard the all too familiar whoosh. When I looked up, a green dragon flew past directly overhead.
I summoned my armor and it appeared, feeling heavy like before.
“Nay, Alora,” Neala said.
“But it’s a dragon.”
“He’s a friend.”
I watched as the dragon soared through the air and every once in a while burped fire.
Neala called to him. “Look who’s awake.”
His neck bent down and when he saw me, his wings spread wide. They caught the air and he did a flip and a twist. I immediately summoned my sword and raised my hand, prepared for him to breathe fire at me.
But he didn’t. And was he smiling?
He was coming in for a landing. I expected him to land with a boom, but when he got close to the ground his legs starting running. When his feet touched down, he tripped and rolled three times before coming to a stop on his back. Quick to his feet, he strolled over.
“Look who’s finally awake,” the dragon said.
I squinted one eye, wondering if I knew this dragon. But how could I?
He lay down on his stomach and used his hand to prop up his chin.
“You scared us all for a while. How are you feeling?”
His voice sounded familiar, but it couldn’t be... could it? “I... I feel fine.” I lowered my hand. “Who are you?” I asked.
He sat back on his hind quarters, the way a dog would when they begged for a treat, and pointed at himself. “You don’t recognize me?”
I didn’t.
“It’s me.”
It couldn’t be. “Lucah?” I asked squinting, trying to see the boy within the dragon. “But how?”
“Aye, it’s me. Lucah the great and powerful dragon.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
He did as well.
“But how did you... how is this possible?”
“The potion... I forget what it’s called, but it allowed me to take the shape of a dragon.”
“The potion of deceit?” I asked.
“Aye, that’s it.”
And like lightning striking a tree, I knew how he had done it. “The dragon scale?”
“Aye.”
“But why would you choose to become a dragon?”
He paused and looked at Neala. Neala nodded.
He answered. “To save you.”
I didn’t understand.
“We needed dragon tears to create the potion to heal you.”
“And you supplied them?”
“Aye.”
/> “You saved me?”
“Not just me. Everyone chipped in, but Davina was the one that got the recipe for the antidote.”
I would have to thank her for saving me.
Lucah produced a vial. A vial that looked so tiny in his claws.
“Want to try it?”
“Try what?”
“What it’s like to be a dragon, of course.”
I didn’t even pause.
I snatched the vial out of his claws, pulled the cork, and swallowed it down.
Neala dropped to her knees and yanked my boots off.
My head began to throb, my body began to shake. And then it hurt. Everything hurt.
The world shook and the ground started to move away from me. My second skin stretched and took the form of my new shape all on its own. I studied my red hands and they now had claws.
I spread my wings and flapped one and then the other. It felt weird to have other parts besides arms and legs.
“Time to practice,” Lucah said, flapping his wings and lifting gently off the ground.
“Alora you should be resting!” I heard Neala shout as I copied him.
“I rested for two weeks. I’m rested enough.”
The ground moved away and we flew higher and higher. I didn’t feel afraid anymore. I wanted to be high up, flying. It reminded me of riding Draycko, but now I was in control. And I loved it.
“Do this,” Lucah said while flying at my side and shifting his body from left to right. “Feel how each little change of your wings effects the way you move.”
“It’s fantastic,” I said.
“Follow me.”
I wanted to, but it was becoming harder to stay focused. My muscles ached and my breathing became labored. I needed to return. “Neala was right. I need my rest,” I said turning back towards the castle.
Lucah flew past me and then slowed until I caught up. “Tired already? And I thought you were tough.”
I reached out and said the magic word, “Glacialis,” and the snow falling in front of him formed a wall as big as his new body. With no time to react he flew right into it.
No match for his dragon armor, the wall shattered.
“Not funny,” he said.
“It was to me.”
“Well maybe after you’re rested we can go for a longer flight?”
“We’ll see.”
We landed in the square, Lucah running and tripping over himself, and me with a loud boom as I fell out of the sky.
Lucah drank first and turned back into himself. I felt butterflies as I watched one of the boys hand him his clothes. I turned around quickly, my cheeks turning beet red.
Neala held a vial up for me to drink. I shrunk down and turned back into myself, my second skin shrinking with me. Neala threw on my winter cloak and held my boots in place while I stepped into them. I hugged her immediately for taking such good care of me.
“I’ll walk you to your room,” Lucah said.
He took my hand in his and I let him. His skin was warm and rough, just as I remembered.
“I’ll see you later,” I told Neala.
She waved goodbye.
In my room, Lucah drew closer. I raised my hand to his chest and stopped him.
“We can’t do whatever it is you’re thinking of doing. You left me remember?”
“I had no choice,” he said.
“We all have a choice, you chose... you didn’t choose me.”
He moved even closer, but my hand didn’t push him away this time and it felt like the air was charged with his energy.
Lucah lifted my chin and stared into my eyes. He gave me that look and I knew I was in trouble.
I told myself I should move away. I told myself I was with Silas. I told myself many things, but none of them made me move. When I felt his lips on mine, I was transported back to the table in his home and our first kiss.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me tighter. I could’ve stayed kissing him forever, but he pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“You need to make a choice now, Alora. Do you want to be with me, or do you want to be with Silas?”
I didn’t know what to say. I wanted them both.
“Why did you have to leave me... ignore me?”
“I told you—”
“I know what you said. But now I’m... I’m so confused.”
Clara walked in and when she saw me in Lucah’s arms, her eyes turned to the floor. “I’m sorry for interrupting, Alora. I heard you were awake and came to resume my duties.”
I pushed away from Lucah. “You aren’t interrupting.”
“I’ll expect an answer,” he said, and then left my room.
Ugh... It was way too much for one morning. I just woke up and I flew around as a dragon and Lucah was asking me to choose things.
Chapter 12
All of the knightlys were back together again and so they looked to me to take charge of them. Silas wanted to put them to work in his army, but I told him not to. They were my knightlys and they would be under my command. He agreed.
It was far too cold out and the snow had yet to let up. Four days straight the snow had been falling. It was piling up in the square and Silas kept trying his best to melt it. He always looked so cute trying to control fire—he wasn’t that good at it.
Every now and then I needed to intervene and do it for him. Secretly of course. I wanted to let the citizens think it was him. They always thanked him for making quick work of what would have been back breaking labor.
I shifted my weight onto my back foot and pushed forward with my hands. The knightlys copied me move for move. Practicing our slow movements together made me feel like we were a family. I know it was silly, but I felt happy having them around me.
And Neala was quickly becoming a formidable opponent. She had been practicing while I slept, and as I watched her, she moved so gracefully.
I clapped my hands together, came to attention and saluted. The knightlys tapped their fists to their chests and returned my salute.
I walked over to Clara. She’d been watching us the whole time waiting until she could do something productive.
“You all look so wonderful moving in sync with each other. So graceful. So peaceful,” she said.
I took a towel and wiped my face. “Feel free to join us if you like.”
“I could never do that.”
“Of course you could,” Ryanne said as she took a towel from her.
Clara shook her head. “I’m not a warrior like all of you. I’m just a servant and I am happy in my position.”
“I was just a servant too,” Neala said.
“But were you happy?”
“Nay.”
“I’m happy. I’m happy serving you all.”
“Well then give me one of those,” Aednat said, snatching the last towel out of Clara’s hands.
Clara jumped back, startled by the towel smacking her in the face as it was pulled away.
“Aednat!” I scolded. “Manners.”
She shooed me. “Manners schmanners.”
Everyone was getting ready to leave, but I’d had enough of Aednat’s rotten attitude. It was time to put a stop to it.
“Everyone leave. I need to speak to Aednat alone.”
Thomas bit into a pear. Chomping away, he whispered into Aednat’s ear. “You’re in trouble.”
She shoved him. “Shut it.”
Thomas chuckled and then pointed at her as he walked away. “Trouble...”
Once everyone had left, I called Aednat to attention.
She immediately did as she was commanded and snapped to.
“Aednat, I’ve had it with your attitude and mistreatment of others.”
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“The way you treat others. Even me. You’re so rude.”
“Rude? Why does everyone keep saying I’m rude?”
“Because you are. You say mean things and treat people
... well... rudely.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you mean?”
“What do you mean by what do I mean? When you first arrived, you told Neala her scars were healing, and it was too bad because it was an improvement.”
Aednat chuckled.
“Aednat!”
She stood up tall.
“What am I going to do with you?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
I could hear the concern in her voice.
“No one likes you.”
Her tall and straight composure turned limp. She whispered. “No one likes me?”
I studied the girl in front of me. The girl whose hair was so short she could’ve been mistaken for a boy. She looked sad.
She whispered softly as she walked past me to the window. “Why doesn’t anyone like me?”
Was she kidding?
“Are you kidding?” I asked.
She turned to face me. “All I’ve ever done is treat you like family. Like a sister. And you don’t like me either, do you?”
“Like a sister?”
She turned to the window again. “This is how me and my family treat each other. Always. I love my family. Alora, you’re my family. You, Davina, Neala, Ryanne. Even that idiot with food always shoved in his mouth. You’re all my family. Why don’t any of you like me?”
“The way you’ve treated us all this time, that’s how you treat family?”
She nodded.
“So you being mean, being rude, all the insults, that’s you... showing that you care about us?”
She nodded again.
I walked over to her and placed my hand on her shoulder. She held her head low, her hair blocking my view of her face. I leaned in to look around her hair and into her eyes. She was crying.
I stood up straight. This was crazy. Aednat was crazy. I didn’t know what to do.
“Aednat, I do care about you, but you make it so hard—”
She pushed me away from her and stormed towards the door.
I almost lost my balance, but caught myself. As she reached for the door I threw my hand out and stopped her. I thrust my hand, flicked my wrist, and she lifted up off the ground and turned to face me.
“You will not storm away from me. I am still your commander.”
