by Aya Knight
“How dare you!” Neelan stepped toward him with a fist raised, when suddenly she lost her footing on a small rock. Her eyes widened as she instinctively reached out for something to grab hold of.
Kale quickly extended an arm, but to no avail as he watched her collide with the ground. Neelan’s wrist slid against the jagged pebbles, tearing at her tender flesh.
Beshin howled in amusement and his gut shook profusely. “That’s the fastest any lass has ever fallen for me.” He took notice to the blood which trickled down her hand as she stood. “Let me get that for ye’.” He brushed the leg of his pant against her wound and once again burst into a fit of laughter. “Ye’ can show yer’ gratitude with a kiss.”
Kale growled, “I will joyously watch as your body melts away—scum.” He protectively stepped between Beshin and Neelan.
The sand-people began to chant louder and Beshin was directed out upon the narrow platform. He spat to his side while holding his gaze outward, never glancing upon the deathly hot depths.
“You have been brought here to face your fate for the crimes of you and your ancestors. Long have we waited for the moment when justice would prevail. The Imbola Clan is guilty of murderous crimes and heartless cruelties. You, Beshin, leader of the Clan shall perish on this day so that our tormented souls may find peace at last.” Reem held the curled tip of his staff out, forcing Beshin to take another step back toward the platform edge. “Have you final words to speak?”
Beshin snickered. “Aye.” He nodded with a grin. “Ye’ think you’re clever, slippin’ into the Imbola village. Ye’ think that by takin’ me captive, you’ll break our strength. Yet, ye’ was foolish ta’ assume I was whom ye’ seek. My name ye’ see … is Karim.” The bandit took a long stride back and locked eyes with Kale. “Ye’ lose.” He fell backward, plummeting down into the molten pit.
Chapter 13: With You, We Are Bound
“No!” Kale shouted while reaching his hand desperately toward where the bandit had stood.
They peered over the ledge as the last remnants of Karim’s fiery skull sank below the bubbling surface.
“Her blood fell with him.” Reem clamped a hand upon Kale’s shoulder. “I am so very sorry …” His voice dropped to a whisper. “It has been done.”
The ground began to vibrate and a steady wheezing intensified from within the crater. The very sand beneath their feet rippled like small waves and the group frantically steadied their footing.
Kale gripped onto Neelan’s hand and shouted to the sky, “You can’t have her!”
As if in response to his words, a large mound beneath the surface raced toward them. It appeared as though something living scurried below, directing itself at Neelan. Kale was powerless to the mighty force as it tore her from his grip. Tears of anger swelled in his eyes as he raced after her. The invisible entity held her in place, suspended in air.
Two sizable sand waves moved steadily toward Neelan’s helpless body. It curled at the peak, preparing to crash down.
“I’m coming Neelan!” Kale cried out as he nearly stumbled over his own feet in a race to rescue her.
“Kale I—” Neelan’s voice was stifled as the sand collided.
Kale watched in horror as Neelan disappeared into the massive mound. He distraughtly dug at the sand with Thomas and Illadar by his side.
“Stand back! We’ve little time before she suffocates under the pressure.” Thomas demanded. He extended a palm and recited ancient words, “Morevardae!”
They shielded their eyes and waited as the sand blew heavily. The wind whisked away at the mound until Neelan’s petite body could be seen lying, crumpled and motionless.
“Please let her be all right …” Kale rushed to her side. “Neelan, can you hear me?!” He gently shook her.
Neelan’s eyes shot open and there was an immediate aura that radiated from her body. Her violet eyes eclipsed with darkness and, from her throat, a low growl could be heard. A sudden chill filled the air and Neelan’s body began to rise from the ground. She levitated above Kale with her arms outstretched to each side. Her hair slithered up in all directions like many angered serpents readying to strike.
Kale felt a hand press down upon his shoulder and spun around to find Reem.
“I am sorry, my friend, but the ceremony cannot be stopped. She is our Queen,” Reem spoke and fell to a knee before Neelan.
“Never!” Kale shouted as he charged at Reem. He knocked the leader of the sand-people onto his back and, despite knowing that Reem was inhuman, Kale repeatedly slammed his fist into the solid body.
“You cannot control what has been done, dragon,” Reem replied.
Kale’s warmth intensified with every word Reem spoke. He could feel the numb tingling within his fingertips and knew his transformation was soon to come. Claws tore from beneath his nails, quickly overtaking his human hands. Kale lashed out at Reem without hesitation; with a swift swipe, Reem’s head rolled across the ground before crumbling to a small mound of sand.
“Kale, what has happened cannot be undone. You’ve heard Reem’s words. For now, you must be there for her—she needs you now more than ever before,” Thomas spoke.
Kale turned to see Neelan standing, distraught and confused. Her violet eyes widely gazing toward him, like a lost child who felt helplessly alone.
“Why…” Neelan softly spoke.
“Neelan, I’m so sorry—I didn’t know he wasn’t the true Beshin.” Kale replied, hurrying to her side. His hands had returned to their former state and he gently tucked her head into the pit of his arm. He softly stroked her hair and whispered words of comfort into her slender ear.
“My Queen,” Reem approached Neelan’s side and the final grains of sand settled into place on his newly formed head, “there is a way we can both find light in this shrouded darkness. Should you forego life as our Queen and help us rise once more to the surface, we can seek the true Beshin together. Should he die by the hands of myself, or my men, you shall be freed from this bind, and we may pass to the afterlife while you remain among the living.”
“We accept,” Kale replied in her place. “If there is hope to release Neelan from this mess you’ve placed upon us, then we will do whatever necessary.”
“Not yet.” Neelan finally confronted the situation with a regained tone of determination. “You must obey my command as your Queen, correct?”
Reem nodded in silence.
“Then I will lead you to the surface, though it is not Beshin we will seek at this time. The most important matter at hand is much greater than you or me. We must find Zasha and bring hope to the dragon eggs. We can scout Beshin’s location after. I’m certain that Zasha can assist with information. She has an odd way of knowing things …” Neelan raised her chin. “I will not accept any other way.”
Kale attempted to protest, but Neelan merely pressed a finger to his lips. He listened while she explained there was nothing he could say to alter her decision. Kale succumbed to the realization that he needed to appease Neelan in order to convince her to leave the underground village; she would surely die if left behind.
“The idea is acceptable to us, my Queen. We will follow you until you fulfill your word to find Beshin.” Reem folded forward in a low bow.
“Then it’s settled. We follow you to Zasha, Kale.” Neelan intertwined her fingers with his. “We mustn’t delay any longer. Reem, how do we get you and your men to the surface?”
Reem rose to face Neelan. “We must pass through the Guardian gate. The dragon and his comrades must leave as they did before.” He twisted his neck toward Kale. “Go now. This village will crumble upon our departure and all sources of oxygen will be lost. Make haste, or you will surely die.”
“I’m not leaving until I see Neelan safely out of this prison,” Kale firmly insisted. “You two,” he loo
ked upon Thomas and Illadar, “please wait for me on the surface.” Kale raised a hand before they could speak. “I assure you, I’ll be fine. Once Neelan has left, I will be behind. You know by now that I won’t have it any other way.”
Thomas nodded. “I shall prepare protection for us once above if the storm is still present. Thanks to Otha and Reem, my belly is full and I feel rejuvenated.”
Illadar and Thomas approached the wall and stepped forward. In an instant they disappeared behind the seemingly solid surface.
Kale had been so focused on his friends that he didn’t notice Neelan and the sand-people had moved near the massive crater. As he moved closer, he could feel the warmth radiating from its depths. The snapping of molten liquid repeatedly echoed off the inner walls.
“The gateway.” Reem extended his arm in a fluent motion toward the pit below.
“No. Absolutely not!” Kale gripped Reem’s shoulders. “Are you trying to get her killed?! I can feel the heat from where we stand. This, coming from a dragon of flame, says enough. She will not survive its intensity—you saw what became of the bandit.”
“She can—and will, dragon. The young elf is now under the protection of the Guardians until we leave this place that has so long tortured our souls.”
Neelan swallowed hard. “I think I believe him, Kale. I have to do this.”
A loud rumble could be heard and caused scattered bits of sand to crumble from the ceiling.
“The Guardians stress our departure. We must hurry before it is too late and we are trapped in this world of torment for eternity,” Reem said in a tone that, for the first time, revealed fear.
Neelan lifted upon her toes and slid a hand to the back of Kale’s head. She pulled his face to hers and softly whispered, “Once I jump, I need you to leave this place. Do not hesitate—I shall be fine.”
“Please, don’t do this. We can run—I’m sure we could make it out through the passage together.” Kale pleaded.
“She cannot, dragon,” Reem’s voice interrupted. “I have said before that she is bound as our Queen. Should she venture too far from our side, her very soul will be taken from her mortal body.”
Tremors shook the ground and the tunnels began to collapse. Sizable chunks, exploded into sandy dust upon impact, creating a haze in all directions. They watched as the ledge of the fiery crater began to split and solid pieces dropped into the bubbling liquid below.
“There is no time left. Promise me you will run, Kale,” Neelan demanded as she struggled to hold balance against the shaking ground.
“I can’t do—”
“Promise!” Neelan yelled in a frustrated panic.
“I—I promise!” Kale’s icy blue eyes locked with Neelan’s.
She leaned up and locked her lips with his. “I’ll see you soon, my love.” She spoke with lips lightly pressed to his.
With a forced smile, she moved back and closed her eyes. With another step, her foot touched the air and Kale watched in horror as she plummeted down into the hissing red pool.
Kale pinched his eyes shut as she disappeared beneath the surface. Each breath he took felt tight and nearly impossible to fill his lungs. Please Pan, let her be at the surface … He thought as he sprinted toward the wall portal. Each step felt as though a weight had been strapped to his boots. It took all of the willpower he could muster to leave without Neelan by his side. He had to put all hope in the truth behind Reem’s words. As Kale ran, he could feel the oxygen in the area decreasing. His chest began to burn as he leapt forward, slipping effortlessly through the wall.
The night air brushed his face, and in an instant, relief swept over him as he deeply inhaled. He opened his eyes and looked to each side for Neelan before scrambling to his feet.
“We’re here!” Neelan’s voice called out from behind.
Kale gently set the bag of eggs on the soft sand and turned, sweeping her off her feet and spinning happily. “Thank you, Pan.” He spoke to the skies. “I’ll better protect you from this moment on, Neelan—I swear it. I shall never let such a foolish mistake happen again. We will make this right.”
A faint light approached and Kale could see Thomas come into view. He held a small glowing orb within his palm, smiling wearily in Kale’s direction.
“I’m glad to see you’ve arrived safely.” Thomas spoke as he glanced forward into the night. “We must travel to the east. It is the quickest way to reach the desert edge, and civilization. I believe there are small villages scattered about who should be more than willing to sell us something to eat.”
“I do wish to bathe and return to my own attire—this is most unfitting for me. And I will not even begin to detail the amount of sand I have within nearly every crevice of my body.” Neelan added.
“My Queen,” Reem attempted to speak.
“I know … I can’t go far from your side.” She heavily sighed. “I will merely eat, wash, and return to where you and your men wait outside the village. I’m sure there will be somewhere you can find concealment.”
“Let’s get goin’,” Illadar pressed. “I don’t want to be out here if another storm forms.”
They began to traverse through the sand in an eastbound direction. Eventually, Thomas commented on the topic he knew was pressing on Kale’s mind. No one had any idea of how, or where to find Zasha. There had been no hint of location, or guidance on which way to set forth. The dragon-tooth amulet hadn’t given any indication of progress in the right direction, and it had been some time since Kale had seen her within his dreams. To Kale, it felt comparable to seeking a single grain of golden sand within the vast desert—nearly impossible.
Kale, whose head was hung, gazed out past his dark brows to discover a dim light in the distance. The group closed in with caution until pale huts could be seen. A light shone from the window of a tall structure which they assumed must be an inn for desert travelers.
“I cannot believe our luck! Never would I have imagined we would come across a small village in the scorching desert,” Neelan said. “I’m famished. I do hope the innkeeper has something to offer. I’m certain they won’t be expecting visitors in the dark of night.”
As they neared the village, the sudden apparition of Zandol appeared before Kale; stopping him in his tracks.
“Young Firehart, you must not remain long in this human village. The eggs are in constant peril as long as they are not within the incubator. You must make haste to Zasha,” the Emerald Prince spoke as he flicked his long tail across the sand.
“But we haven’t a clue of where she could be. Can’t you provide us with assistance? You must know where she is,” Kale questioned in hopes of any information to help them proceed with their quest.
Zandol hummed deeply and lowered his sizable body. He groaned as though he still felt the aches of aging. “I do know where she resides. However, I do not clearly recall how to get there. It was many, many decades ago, before you hatched, during the Dragon War against Garox; a most treacherous dragon. We sought assistance from the dragon God himself—Pan. I recall a tower; certainly in ruin by now. It was slender and tall; home to a mighty human sorcerer who fought valiantly by our side. He granted us passage into the tower with a powerful spell. I can still see the wondrous sights once we stepped into Pan’s realm. Magnificent …” Zandol became lost in thought as he spoke.
“Do you remember in which direction the tower stands?” Kale questioned.
“I do not, young Firehart. It has been far too long. At that time, terrible things were happening, and my mind focused on the battle ahead. I have faith you will find it. Once you leave this desert, it will be difficult for us to speak. I caution you to only summon me in a time of need for it will exert a great amount of your energy to do so. You are strong—look within your heart for answers and you shall see the light. I bid you farewell, brave one. May Pan
watch over you.” Zandol stood and expanded his massive green wings. With a swift flap, he shot into the sky; disappearing into the darkness above.
Kale informed the others of his newfound information. They stood in silence while trying to determine if the tower description brought any hint of familiarity. The group decided they’d be better off discussing the situation on a full stomach.
Neelan turned to face the sand-people. “I believe we may have a problem. I see no place for you to hide while we enter the village. Though from afar you appear as men, I fear if any should discover the truth, it will cause immediate alarm.”
“My Queen,” Reem bowed his head, “please allow us to rectify this situation.” He exhaled, releasing a low hissing. His body began to crumble before Neelan’s very eyes.
His men followed and soon were no more than heaps of clothing upon the ground. Almost simultaneously, a small wave of sand rushed over each pile, concealing it with the surrounding earth. No trace of the sand-people could be seen.
“Bloody hell…” Illadar mumbled. “That was convenient.”
“Please do not delay, my Queen.” Reem’s voice could be heard, though it was impossible to tell in which direction. “We have only a single day to remain without form before we are forced to remain this way for eternity, with no way to fulfill our vow. Should our own hands not strike the enemy, we will never be freed from this immortal imprisonment.”
Neelan nodded. “Do not worry; I won’t be long.”
The group entered the dark, quaint village where two rows of homes bordered a wide path. Each hut appeared to be extremely sturdy, crafted of a molded stone that could withstand the desert storms.
Kale shook his head in disbelief that people willingly chose to make a home in such a place. The heat alone was enough to drive most humans to the brink of death. The thought made him wonder what type of food selection they could possibly offer without game or farming land nearby.
