by Dreagen
“That’s a rather bold assumption, given what is at stake. How can we be sure they still will not have sentries flying about?”
LyCora held her tongue for a moment before speaking. “Well…we don’t, but it’s the best chance we have. Besides, we’re out of time. Whatever the reason for taking DiNiya, it’s all happening today.”
VayRonx gave her a long, serious look before turning away and sighing. “I failed to keep all of you safe, and now rather than marching into danger myself, I’m sending a mere boy alone in my stead.”
“If you, or any of us, march up to that tower, they’re going to know we’re up to something, and then who knows what they might do to DiNiya.”
“She’s right, VayRonx,” BaRone said. “She’s my daughter and I want her back more than anyone, but the only way that’s going to happen is if we’re more cunning than they’ve been.”
“Besides,” LyCora added, “we’re far from alone.”
TarFor, who had been watching the sky to the west, suddenly pointed in its direction. “They’re coming!”
Rex felt the heat of multiple flames approaching. Opening his eyes, he saw seven long-necked, winged shapes circling around his flame, but with the midday sun shining down brightly, they appeared as nothing more than dark outlines descending lower and lower. Closing his eyes again, Rex allowed the fury that drove his flame to subside back into him. For everyone it would seem as if it was gone, but as always, he could still feel it just beneath the surface, lying in wait for the time it could be unleashed, an event usually triggered by instinct. And instinct was now burning in his veins and screaming in his head to burn out of control. Rex used every reserve of self-control he could muster to keep from obeying as he watched the DraGons land around him.
Stepping forward, a medium-sized grey DraGon in blue and black armor eyed Rex carefully and with all manner of suspicion. “Where are the others?” he finally demanded.
Shaking his head, Rex replied, “There are no others. Just me.”
“Do you take us for fools?”
“Yes.”
The DraGon growled in response at the sarcastic quip. “You’ve been traveling with four other DyVorians,” the DraGon said, now losing his temper. “They haven’t left your side since you left KaNar, so where are they now?”
“Don’t know. All I care is that they’re not here, which means you can’t hurt them.”
“So are we supposed to believe you have just selflessly offered yourself to us in order to spare them harm?” the DraGon asked, crossing his arms.
“Wouldn’t you if you were me?” Rex replied, betting that even DraGons were not uncaring, a thought he had been having after seeing the way LemaRes had reacted to the old DraGon dying.
The knight looked noticeably struck by his words and regarded him with solemn intensity for a time, before snorting a small burst of blue flame from his nostrils. Then with a single fluid motion, he spread out his wings and asked, “You won’t put up a fight?”
“No,” Rex replied simply.
“No resistance whatsoever?”
“None.”
“You’ll just…let us take you with us to the Grand Marshal?”
With an agitated sigh, Rex replied, “Yes, that’s what I’m saying. That’s why I came to you!”
“It’s a trick,” said one of the other DraGons. “It has to be!”
“He’s right,” said another. “No way he would make it this easy for us!”
Rex, now fearing that his little ruse was unraveling, decided to play on a hunch. “What happens if you go back without me?”
“What do you mean?” the lead DraGon asked, turning back to him.
“I’m coming to that tower whether you bring me or not. The only question is what I tell your big, scary boss when I get there.”
Looking at the others, the DraGon said, “I don’t follow.”
“Take me in now and you get a nice pat on the head for being the brave heroes who captured the evil Doom Bringer or whatever the hell it is you all call me. Or you can leave me here, and I’ll have to walk half the day to the tower only to tell DayKar that you willingly chose to not bring me in when I so conveniently served myself up on a platter for you. You follow me now?”
“Clever beast,” the DraGon said, considering his words. “However, in your haste to con us, you failed to take into consideration the third option.”
“What third option?” Rex asked as he felt a stab of anxiety in his gut.
“The one where we do everything short of kill you, then fly your half-dead carcass back to our big scary boss, as you so eloquently put it.”
Rex grinned. “Then why haven’t you already?”
The DraGon looked noticeably taken aback by the question. “W…What?”
“I asked,” Rex said, looking up and locking eyes with him. “Why haven’t you done that already, then?”
Feeling the sting of nervousness now, the DraGon glanced at the others for support, but found they too were suffering from uncertainty.
“Come on,” Rex pressed in a tone that suggested less like one who had been caught and more like someone who had the upper hand and knew it. “I’m right here. What are you waiting for? I’m not running.” He took a step forward. “Nor am I hiding,” he said, taking another step, which caused the DraGon to stumbled back over his tail before quickly regaining his footing. “I’m just standing right here in front of you. Waiting. So I guess you need to ask yourself, who are you more afraid of? DayKar…or me?”
“There they go,” TarFor exclaimed as they all watched the seven DraGons rise up into the sky.
“Do they have him?” AnaSaya asked anxiously.
Focusing his eyes intently, VayRonx peered closely and could see the DraGon out in front was indeed carrying Rex. “They do.”
“Excellent,” LyCora exclaimed. “Now it’s our turn to get moving. Is everyone ready?” she asked, turning to ShinGaru, AnaSaya, and EeNox.
“We are,” EeNox replied while the other two nodded.
“All right, let’s go,” she called up.
Suddenly the Highwings led by NyEssa shot down with golden lightning from the clouds above. “Ready?” NyEssa asked.
“We’ll find out soon enough,” LyCora replied, leaping effortlessly onto the large winged alpha’s back, with the other three following suit on three of the others.
“Remind me again why I should let you go off ahead of us like this?” BaRone asked his son as he mounted the Highwing. “I mean…there’s still no guarantee I’ll get my little girl back. Why should I risk losing you now too?”
“Because as strong as Rex is, he still needs a little help,” EeNox explained.
“Even if he won’t admit it,” LyCora added. EeNox, ShinGaru, and AnaSaya laughed while BaRone just looked concerned.
“But why you, and not us?” he pressed. “It makes more sense for all of us to go and help Rex save DiNiya together!”
“And we all will, but he’s going to need back-up as soon as he gets there,” explained ShinGaru. “With the help of NyEssa and her people, we can get there ahead of everyone and protect DiNiya long enough for the rest of you to arrive and win the day.”
“BaRone,” NyEssa spoke in her deep, resonating voice. “I give you my word as alpha of Grand Heights that I will look after these children and help bring back the ones you have lost.”
He nodded before looking up at EeNox. “I love you, my son.” EeNox lowered his head so his father could hug him. “When you see your sister,” BaRone whispered in his ear, “tell her I’m coming for her.”
“I will,” EeNox replied. The two separated and gave one another a silent nod.
“LyCora,” VoRenna called to her daughter. “Don’t forget to use your head.”
“I will, mother,” LyCora replied with a nod.
“And know that I’m very proud of you. I love you.”
To hear such words from her mother—a strong, proud female who rarely showed affection to anyone, including her—filled her wit
h such a sense of pride and love that for a moment she thought she might break her rule of not crying. “I love you too, Mother,” she said in a shaky voice.
“Be careful, AnaSaya,” VyKia said to her own daughter. “Don’t forget what I taught you.”
“Don’t worry, Mother,” she replied kindly. “I remember every word. Even the ones you said when you thought I wasn’t paying attention,” she added with a wink.
VyKia gave a look of surprise before succumbing to a grin. “Cheeky girl. I love you.”
“I love you too, Mother,” AnaSaya replied.
ShinGaru looked at everyone and smiled. He was happy to see them all learning just how loved they truly were, and how strong the ties that bind was between them and those who had reared them. “Well, I believe it’s time that we were off,” he said at last.
“ShinGaru,” BaRone called to him. “When this is all over, you’re coming home with EeNox, DiNiya, Rex, and me, you understand?”
“I uh…”
“You’ve been without a proper home and a proper family for too long, but no longer.”
“Hey, you hear that?” EeNox said, nudging ShinGaru, who looked stunned for the first time anyone had seen. “We’re going to be brothers!”
“I…I don’t know what to say,” the golden serpent stammered.
“Say you’ll be home in time for dinner,” BaRone replied.
ShinGaru regarded the man for a moment before finally smiling and saying, “I will. Thank you.”
BaRone gave him a nod, and with that they all lifted off into the air with a powerful golden surge. As they watched them shrink into the western horizon, they could not help but feel that their precious children had in that moment flown the nest of what would have been their childhood and taken on the burden of life as adults. A life they now knew they could have never prepared them for.
“All right,” roared VayRonx. “It is time to finish what our ancestors began ten thousand years ago!” With another powerful bellow, he led the charge down the canyon where his fellow tribe as well as the five hundred warriors who followed him from Bloodstone had been waiting patiently for the signal to move out. Now they moved as a single force, glowing with the brilliance of their united flames, led by the mightiest predator in all of the Northern Continent, and following the shadow of the deadliest that ever lived.
25
FORGED IN FLAME
Rex strained to keep his eyes open as the high-altitude winds blew against them and swept over his downy coat; yet despite the whistling in his ears everything seemed silent. Glancing down, he saw the world far below, silently gliding by beneath him. For a moment he felt as if he was a giant, with his head towering in the sky, surveying an endless horizon. But the sudden pressure of something tightening around him brought him back to reality. Looking up, he saw the grey DraGon gliding through the air as he had probably done countless times before. Rex had often wondered what it would be like to fly, and even found himself envying the DraGons for being able to do so.
They flew for another thirty minutes before the large red rock walls and spires that made the western coast so famous came into view. Rex marveled at the massive geologic wonders that stood taller than the tallest tree in KaNar. As they passed between them, he noticed enormous hieroglyphic images etched in them as well as carved reliefs of DyVorians. He had never seen such sights since he arrived in EeNara, and wondered what else there was to see, and also if he would survive what lay ahead. He did not have to dwell on such thoughts for very long, though, for no sooner had they rounded the spires than the tower loomed imposingly into view.
Rex’s eyes went wide as he took in the awesome sight. So massive was the tower that its base alone covered almost three kilometers. As they drew closer, he could see DraGons perched on various outcroppings all over it, while others circled its mass. As they neared the side, the DraGons veered up, climbing in altitude. Rex watched as faces of all shapes and sizes rushed past him as he rose higher and higher. Finally, the tower disappeared and he was greeted by the sun, shining down over a large flat stone surface. Before he could so much as utter a word, he felt the DraGon’s grip around his ribs vanish and he dropped to the floor. Standing up quickly, Rex turned just as the other DraGons landed behind him.
“Where is she?” he demanded. “Where’s DiNiya?”
“It is not for us to say,” the grey DraGon replied.
“Don’t give me that! Tell me where she is right now or I’ll—”
“Or you’ll what?” came a deep voice.
Rex spun on his feet, searching for the source but saw no one else besides himself and the other DraGons. “Who said that?”
“Let me guess, you’ll kill us? Oh, that would be your style, wouldn’t it Rex? Someone doesn’t give you what you want and you have a fit! Hardly anything worth commenting on, but given who and what you are…well, let’s just say I’m glad this tower is as durable as it is.”
“That voice,” Rex said. Suddenly something began to rise from the ground in front of him. Not out of it, but separating from it, like a portion of the floor was coming apart from itself and taking shape. It was not long before it became that of a DraGon, one that Rex recognized. Dark-colored rock turned to gold armor as DayKar stretched his wings and flexed his muscles like he was waking from a long sleep. Wincing slightly from a pain in his right foreleg when he took the first step, he began slowly walking toward Rex, who noticed he would limp slightly every few steps.
“Catch you at a bad time?” Rex asked condescendingly.
“On the contrary, Rex,” DayKar replied, smiling. “You’re right on time.”
“Where is she?”
“Who?”
“Don’t play games with me! Where is DiNiya?”
“Oh, her?” DayKar replied, turning his back to Rex. “Curious how you just assume we haven’t killed her already.”
“We both know you haven’t,” Rex replied, taking a step towards him.
“We do?” DayKar replied, giving Rex an odd look. “And just how is that?”
“Because you need the both of us for either one of us to be of any use to you. That’s why you went through all this trouble of getting me here, right?”
DayKar grinned, turning back to Rex. “Very perceptive. Your most dangerous trait always was how clever you were. I’d wondered if that part of you survived.”
Hearing those words struck a chord deep within Rex. So much so that he was flooded with a sudden terrible rush of emotion that left him frozen in place. At last he lifted his head and regarded the massive creature with what almost looked like a pleading look. “Tell me,” he said. “What am I? Who am I?”
“Such easy questions to ask, yet…a bit more difficult to answer.”
“Try! I have to know! All my life I never belonged, then I end up in this world and for the first time I start to feel like I fit! But then you show up and tear everything down…I have to watch my life come undone all over again!”
DayKar regarded him for a solemn moment before rising up on his hind legs and bringing his wings out around them both. “Hurts, doesn’t it? To be forced to watch your entire existence thrown into question by the judgment of others. People who decide to take control of your destiny and lord over it. Oh trust me, Doom Bringer—”
“Don’t call me that!”
“Trust me when I say I know exactly how you feel.” He paused for a moment, closing his eyes and allowing the anger to pass through him and subside before continuing. “I know what it feels like to be forced to look into the eyes of the one who has taken everything from you…I will never forget what that feels like. Nor will I ever let it happen again.”
Rex looked at him without saying a word. The whole moment felt so surreal. After having lost his father and the world he knew to these creatures, he was now being subjugated to a tale of woe by one of them. Looking down, he could not help but feel that the whole thing seemed so perverse, so beyond reason that he felt his head begin to spin. “Am I supposed to fe
el sorry for you?” he asked finally, looking back up.
“Come again?” DayKar replied.
“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?” he repeated, putting more emphasis on his words. “Because I look at you, and the only thing that puts any tiny sliver of joy in my heart is the thought of you suffering in any small way, shape, or form.” DayKar stirred uncomfortably, his lips curling and wings spreading slightly. “I may not remember anything about who I was before, or what happened to me. But I do know that if I managed to hurt you, if I managed in some small way to take something, anything from you that you cared about…well, then, I suppose I couldn’t have been all bad.”
DayKar spread his wings wide, dropped back on all fours, and bore down on Rex, who did not hesitate and raced to meet him head-on before they both stopped, both trying to stare the other down. The two stood there for a time with teeth bared mere centimeters from one another, DyVorian roars beating against DraGon howls. The knights that had brought Rex shifted nervously, none of them knowing if they should intervene or stay out of the matter altogether.
At last, the decision was made for them as the two adversaries slowly backed away from each other, but not without keeping their eyes trained on one another. Finally, DayKar reared his neck up and spoke. “Predictable as ever,” he said with a slight laugh. “You never could turn away from a fight, never could back down. You always were stronger than anyone around you…always willing and able to take that extra step that made all the difference.”
“I didn’t come here to be flattered by you,” Rex replied angrily.
“No, of course not,” DayKar said with a shake of his head. “No, you came here to play the part of the hero. Rescue the damsel in distress, right?”
Just then the ground in the center of the platform began to open as an altar with LemaRes perched atop rose up. It was then that he saw DiNiya, chained to the strange structure and having been hidden behind the DraGon’s wings. He also noticed that her hand had already begun to grow back, something he could not understand for he remembered biting it clean off only hours ago. Yet here she was, practically whole once more. Could it have something to do with this tower? Some method of healing, alien to EeNara? It would come as no real surprise, for they were an alien race. Even the very tower they were standing on was probably made of something unknown to even the best scientific minds this world had to offer. There was no telling just what other different and unknown forms of technology the DraGons had brought with them.
