Dragon's Fire

by Bri Sailor

  The king turned as if on command and presented Lusha with a crown. Four bands of gold were braided together with a diamond surrounded by an emerald, sapphire, ruby, and amethyst placed in the center. She bowed her head as the king gently placed it on her head.

  “I now pronounce you, Queen of Khenná!” stated the priest with authority.

  Lusha’s eyes glowed white as she turned her attention back to her captive audience.

  “You’re too late!” she sneered. “My complete control over this world is now one step closer to being realized!”

  Vex threw his sword in the air. “You will never see control! I will see your head on a spike before—’’

  In one swift motion Lusha flicked her arm, snapping Ultrek’s neck. The king crumpled to the ground and didn’t move. The priest began visibly shaking and took a few unsteady steps backward. Sweat poured off of his brow as all of the color drained from his face. He clutched his chest and fell to the ground. Vex’s heart stopped. The starkly silent palace chamber echoed with her evil laughter.

  “T’kë kiitiixüg drökëm när t’kät örsë räd ihöür kiirg mör giiën dëäd. Ii akt ihöür trüë rügër. Mör krë’krärë tö skëmd t’kë rënt öx ihöür dä’ihn rökkiirg iim t’kiis kiit! Your king is dead! Now prepare to spend the rest of your days rotting in this pit!”

  With a bright flash of light she disappeared. The panicked men tried to run and found themselves smacking into an invisible wall between the doors. The soldiers started to panic. Vex ran to a window and smashed it. What remained was something that resembled the surface of a bubble. He put his hand up to it. The iridescent surface felt as hard as stone. He slammed his fist against the barrier.

  “Dammit!” he swore. “She’s sealed us in!”

  A voice echoed through the palace.

  “Ah, ah, ah, General.” Lusha scolded. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  Before Vex could do anything he disappeared in a black mist.

  “Vex!” screamed one of the men.

  Chapter 3

  After weeks of traveling they were finally near their destination. In the back of everyone’s minds was the fear that at any moment they could be found out and attacked. They had not run into any of Lusha’s men or the witch herself since they left Lynica. The warrior was constantly on edge, waiting for an attack around every corner, she was even watching the sky. By now, who knows how powerful the witch could be. She had had plenty of time to gather her strength in the shadows while she waited for the next opportunity to strike. Ky had utilized what little time they had to better train Atreyis and Cora. Taryn had allowed it but only just. Atreyis tried to reconcile with her friend by saying that she had learned all she could from the guard and was grateful for it, but the warrior offered even more battle-born experience. Ky used these opportunities to use up her anxious energy. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to coming back to Thaemo. Cora had used the time spent traveling to meditate and search for answers. She still had no idea what had happened to her friends that night. The screams. The invisible flames. The priestess had not been able to commune with the Goddess and was not able to project herself into the Spirit Realm for some time. It worried her to no end. She feared that there was some connection between what happened and her now seemingly severed connection with the Goddess.

  Across the grasslands the massive sandstone walls of Thaemo finally came into view. Everyone but Ky was in awe of how large the sprawling city truly was. Taryn noticed that Ky had pulled up her hood once they were closer and had gone silent. The guard pulled her horse up next to Ky’s.

  “What’s wrong with you?” she asked. “You’re quieter than your usual silent self.”

  Ky maintained her forward gaze, refusing to break contact with the gate into the city. “Let’s just say I’m not exactly thrilled to be back here. The last time I was here things were…different.”

  Ehren heard the conversation and joined them. “What do you mean?”

  The warrior looked around at the group and checked to make sure that there was no one else around within earshot.

  She took a breath. “The last time I saw this city was when my army was laying siege to it three years ago. Ultrek demanded that the city be taken by any means. He said that Lusha told him that the royal family would not pledge allegiance to them and therefore had to be eliminated. After almost a year, King Edvard surrendered.”

  “What happened?” asked Taryn.

  Ky frowned. “I was going to negotiate terms but the entire family vanished. Not a trace to be found.”

  “So Lusha is here then?” Ehren’s eyes flashed with anger as he gripped his reins.

  Ky saw the look and stopped the prince. “No. If anything she would only briefly stay before moving on. She most likely has returned to her temple outside of Óhn. To the company of her sniveling priests. No. The man who now sits on the throne is nothing more than a weasel, a vicious one at that, who trusts no one. He once executed a man falsely accused of spreading a rumor about his prized steed. Make no mistake. The moment we arrive in the city, Horgath will know. I don’t know how he does it, but the man knows everything about everyone and their movements within his walls. Not unlike when he was Edvard’s advisor.”

  “So how are we to stay out of his sights?” asked Riker. “Sounds like an impossible task.”

  “What if we stayed out of the city and silently infiltrated it to allow Cora to meet with the priests?” offered Taryn.

  “Either way it seems we will be found out.” Said Ehren. “Feels like a trap to me.”

  Ky snorted. “It is. Fortunately, I know of a place where we will be safe enough for a short time. Or at least out of his reach long enough to meet with the priests and figure out our next move. Getting into the city is easy…”

  The city gate that loomed before them was wide open with only a few guards posted outside. They wore heavy armor that was covered in rich orange and yellow tunics that matched the impossibly large banners that hung from the wall. Their spears were sharpened to a fine point and large swords hung off their hips. Their helmets covered every part of their face, with their eyes appearing to be lifeless black holes. They stood perfectly side by side on both sides of the gate, watching like hawks.

  Ky turned to the group. “The moment we cross through the gate you can bet the Horgath will be alerted to our presence. We won’t have long to disappear. Stick close to me.”

  Atreyis swallowed hard and Ehren gritted his teeth. Everyone was unsettled but didn’t let it show. As they passed through the gate with Ky at the helm they were met with inquisitive glares from the guards. They seemed particularly transfixed with the hooded figure in black. The princess caved and looked back at the gate. She watched in horror as twenty guards created a human barricade. A man dressed in light armor sprinted towards a side street and disappeared. Atreyis pulled up next to the warrior and spoke in a low voice.

  “They closed off the gate and one of the guards took off somewhere. He looked like a scout.”

  Ky kept quiet. They continued down the main road of the city. The houses and buildings were made of the same beige stone as the wall encompassing the city. Many of the larger dwellings were decorated with orange and yellow banners that were embroidered with two dragons facing each other. The bright colors quickly faded away as Ky made a sharp left turn down an alleyway. The rest of the group stayed close behind her. The warrior led them through a labyrinth of alleyways and side streets. They soon found themselves surrounded by old and broken down structures. People were sleeping wherever they could. Cora’s heart ached for the poor souls. Eventually, Ky slowed to a stop in front of a disheveled tavern. The sign above the door was falling apart and the paint was faded. The warrior looked over the building with an air of disgust and anger. Her stomach dropped. She did not want to go inside, but she knew they must. She would just have to face whatever was going to great her on the other side, friendly or not.

  “The Huntress?” asked Ehren suspiciously. “A favori
te old haunt of yours?”

  Ky didn’t even look at him. “It’s a place where other non-persons can remain anonymous and forgotten. As well as…certain company, if one wished it…”

  Atreyis felt her stomach flutter and a redness crept up her neck. “Company?”

  The warrior cleared her throat and refused to make eye contact. She braced herself and disappeared through the doorway. Everyone else followed behind her. Riker held his nose. Ehren stuck close to his sister’s side with his hand on the hilt of his sword. The tavern was dark and dimly lit. It smelled of stale straw and ale. Two wobbly drunks argued in the corner while the rest of the patrons drank away their sorrows or were passed out cold. The warrior stuttered her step but a moment. Something was off. Things had gone downhill severely since she was last here. Taryn wrinkled her nose in disgust. Cora sent a silent prayer for the wretched souls. Riker was now oblivious as he tinkered with something on his wrist. Behind the bar was a grimy man with greasy hair that was slicked back. A visibly upset Ky strode up to the bar.

  “We need beds and a stable for our horses.” She said in a low voice.

  The man looked her up and down. She was too well dressed to be staying in the likes of his tavern. The whole group was a little suspicious in his mind. He wrinkled his nose at her.

  “All filled up. Best try somewhere else.” He looked over the group. “This isn’t a place for your kind. You’re better off going to the Dragonlight.”

  Ky put her hands on the bar and stared the man down.

  “Who are you? What happened to Iyara?”

  The barkeep put down the mug he had been cleaning.

  “What’s it to you?” he sneered.

  The warrior remained silent and stared him down. He shifted his weight.

  “I am Markis. Word is she was locked up nearly two years ago for evading taxes. She left me in charge.”

  Ky’s jaw clenched and her eyes flashed a dangerous red. “Well then, Markis that means you can give an old friend of hers a room.”

  He leaned forward on his hands, his eyes flickered a dim purple, and looked her dead in the eyes. “I told you. All filled up. Best try somewhere else that caters to outsiders.”

  Markis tried to go into the storage room behind the bar. In a flash Ky had him by the collar and had a knife to his throat. She pressed the cold blade into his skin, making sure to get her point across. Her gray eyes pierced the now terrified man.

  “Maybe I was unclear. Rooms and stable for me and my friends here. Or Iyara taking your job for not helping out her friend and giving it to the next incompetent ass that walks through the door will seem like nothing in comparison to what I will do to you.” Even without red eyes she was intimidating.

  “Y-y-yes. Where are my manners? Of course we have something available. I believe it will be suitable for you and your friends here.” He squeaked.

  “Good.” She pulled him close, lifting him up off his feet. “Nothing happens to our horses and no one knows we are here. Got it? Unless you want to spend the rest of your life as a mute eunuch.”

  “Alright! Alright! I get it!” pleaded the man. “I will see that everything it as you said.”

  The warrior released him and dropped a handful of silver coins on the bar, much more than was necessary. The man rubbed his neck and pointed to the stairs.

  “The beds are up and to the right.” He rasped as he greedily collected the coins. “The stable is out back with plenty of oats and hay.”

  “I’m familiar with the place.” Grunted Ky.

  She turned back to a mix of glaring and shocked eyes.

  “Grab the horses and let’s unpack. Quickly.” She said calmly.

  Ehren let go of his sword and nodded. He followed Ky outside to confront her.

  “Was that really necessary? What ever happened to not drawing attention to ourselves? There must be more places that we can stay. I’ve got a bad feeling about this hole.”

  Ky shot him a look. “This ‘hole’ didn’t used to be like this. Back when Iyara ran this place it was actually decent. As for the rest of the area, there are only two languages that the people understand. Violence and money. As I told you, this is the place we need to stay. The man’s silence was easily bought. We are safe for now. Guards rarely come to this district, and the ones that do could hardly be called as such.”

  Ehren scowled. “That’s what worries me. That the man can be bought. What is to keep him from selling us out for a higher price?”

  Ky grabbed the horses’ reins and began to lead them around back. “Because now he knows who I am. I saw it in his eyes. Which means he knows what I am capable of. Let’s just say if something were to happen to any of us he knows his fate.”

  The prince didn’t care for the ominous tone in the warrior’s voice. What was she hiding? He grabbed the rest of the reins and followed her to the stables. Riker and Taryn met them there to unload the horses. Atreyis and Cora were inside ordering food for everyone. Once the horses were unloaded and their belongings up in the room, they all sat down to a surprisingly delicious dinner. Most of the drunks were gone or still passed out.

  Atreyis checked the room before leaning in towards Ky, eyeing the mug of ale the warrior had added to her dinner. “So who is Iyara?”

  Ky stopped chewing for a moment before downing some ale. She knew that she would have to explain herself sooner or later.

  “She’s…a friend.” The warrior took a bite of stew. “A friend from my past. She helped me out of a tough spot once.”

  “Troubles?” asked Ehren.

  “No.” replied the warrior defensively. “I was in a valid argument with someone and she helped me out. In return I helped her clean this place up.”

  Atreyis felt her stomach gurgle. “So was this before or after the siege?”

  “After.” Stated the warrior. “A few months after to be honest. Until I was given further orders I was to remain in the city. I celebrated a little too much one night and decided to pick a fight with the wrong person. Iyara stopped me before I ended up on the chopping block. She brought me back here, sobered me up. We kept each other company for the six months I was here. That’s all. I owed her my life.”

  Atreyis chewed the inside of her lip. Ky needed to take it easy on the drinks.

  “So what you’re telling us is that you’re not new to the whole idea of no one liking you?” quipped Taryn.

  Ky shot her a look.

  Cora cleared her throat. “How soon until I can meet with the Priests of Morlex? We need to find the location of the crystal.”

  The warrior nodded. “I have an idea. And contrary to the belief that I am not liked, I do happen to have one friend in this gods’ forsaken city. Once I have safely made contact with him you can see your fellow priests.”

  “Why do we have to wait on your contact? Why not just go tonight and sneak in?” asked Riker.

  “Because, Riker, unlike your priests at home, some of the priests here are loyal to only the steward, Horgath. I can’t risk anything happening to any of you and you exposing us.”

  Cora looked at the warrior. “So what will you have me do then?”

  “Yes.” Added Ehren sardonically. “Since you seem to know everything, I expect you have some grand plan?”

  Ky shot him a look. “What’s the matter, prince? Getting under your skin that you aren’t the one in charge?”

  Ehren turned ever so slightly red.

  The warrior ignored him. “First I make contact. The rest will follow.”

  She trudged over to the bar.

  “Parchment and ink.” She demanded, dropping a coin on the counter.

  Markis reached under the bar and gave her the items. She shooed him away and began scribbling something on the parchment. When she was done she grabbed a candle and poured melted wax to seal it. Using her knife she carved some sort of symbol into the wax. A small boy was sweeping the floor nearby. She turned to the boy.

  “You, boy.” She said sternly. “I need you to deliver som
ething for me.”

  The boy nodded and dropped his broom. Ky brandished two silver coins and the boy’s eyes went wide.

  “Take this letter and deliver it to the very bald blacksmith at the bazaar. Goes by the name Doan. Make sure no guard sees you and that the letter gets to him immediately. There will be more coin for you when you return with his reply.” She tossed him the coins.

  The boy could hardly believe his luck. He nodded vigorously and was off in a flash.

  Ehren aggressively leaned over the table to Ky. “What if the boy is unsuccessful? Aren’t you worried that we are being watched? What if your letter falls into the wrong hands?”