Dragon's Fire

by Bri Sailor

  “What does that mean?” asked Ehren.

  “I’m not completely sure and neither is Oldrin, but one thing he is sure of is that Atreyis and you are something called Gatekeepers. That you are reincarnations of the spirits that once guarded against the Ever Dark. But that’s not even the interesting part. The Seal isn’t what we thought it was. If Oldrin is correct it actually houses the power of all Descended, not Béloneras. The Seal that holds Lusha’s master is located somewhere else.” Said Cora breathlessly.

  “You’re not serious.” Said Atreyis. “I would think I would remember being some sort of spirit thing.”

  “And what of Lusha?” asked Riker. “Is she not aware that the Seal that she is after is not the one in the Temple of Ages? Does she know about Ehren and Atreyis being spirits?”

  Cora shook her head. “I don’t think she does. Otherwise she wouldn’t have tried to open the Seal at the temple. I believe she still thinks that she is after the right one. But I fear that this could make her even more dangerous.”

  “How?” asked Taryn. “If she opens it won’t it just make the rest of us stronger?”

  “Possibly.” Acknowledged Cora. “But it might also make her desperate. Which is worse? A lion on the prowl or one that has been caged and starved? Once this is over we will have to talk more. There is so much, much more.”

  “Agreed. Cora brings up a good point.” Added Ky. “I’ve seen what that witch is capable of. I don’t want to even imagine what she would do if what rules she still follows are pushed aside.”

  “So what are you going to do?” asked Joslette.

  “What we have been planning so far. Get the crystals, and take out Horgath.” Said Ky simply, she looked at Atreyis. “Princess, myself, and Taryn will go to a tavern near the palace that is popular with the guards. All we have to do is get three of them into the alley, attack, and take their uniforms. Joslette, I want you to draw up detailed plans of the palace grounds. Ehren, you and Riker will plan out where to start the fires, how to get the horses to stampede, and then our escape route. Cora, get your speech for the people ready. Once the palace has been cleared out there will be mass hysteria. You and Joslette will address the people in front of the palace and let them know that Joslette has returned to claim her true heritage and place on the throne.”

  “Why only three? Shouldn’t all of us have a uniform?” asked Riker.

  “I already have one from earlier.” Clarified Ky. “You, Ehren, Atreyis, and Taryn will be wearing them. I won’t.”

  “And why won’t you?” Atreyis said through clenched teeth.

  “It’s not necessary.” Ky brushed her off. “Here is your dress, Taryn.”

  She tossed a green dress to the guard, keeping a bright blue one for herself. Atreyis stood up in a huff and shoved her chair into the table and headed up the stairs to change. Taryn quickly chased after her. Ky seemingly paid no attention and made her way back into Iyara’s room.

  “What was that about?” asked Ehren, he looked at Cora.

  The priestess shook her head. “Not now. Joslette, can you start on the plans?”

  “Sure.” Said Joslette. “I just need some parchment.”

  Ehren went to retrieve the necessary items while Cora followed Taryn and Atreyis upstairs.

  “…wrong with you?” The priestess heard Taryn through the door, she slipped inside.

  “Nothing.” Grumped Atreyis.

  “Could have fooled me.” Said Cora.

  Atreyis began getting undressed. She threw her shirt on the bed and slammed her boots on the floor. It was then that her friends noticed her intricate tattoo wings.

  “What is that?” gasped Cora.

  Atreyis paused a moment, not knowing what she was talking about. Then she remembered.

  “Nothing.” She dismissed.

  Taryn traced the lines. “I would hardly call this nothing. When did you—’’

  Atreyis fumbled a moment with the red dress before dramatically putting it on. Taryn and Cora just looked at each other. Taryn carefully started to change into her dress.

  “I had some time to kill. Nothing was happening at the palace, so I went exploring.” Explained the princess.

  “I wonder what your brother will say.” Said Cora.

  “Ha. I wonder what Ky will think. She might think you are copying her again. But instead of clothes it’s permanent.” Laughed Taryn.

  “Forget her!” exploded Atreyis. “I don’t care what she says. She says that she’s sorry for what she did, but her words were empty.” She went off on a tirade. “As if she was trying to placate me like some child who does not understand the gravity of her actions. I trusted her. I trusted her with the very same secret as I did the two of you. I thought her actions at Stone Shield spoke volumes, so I decided to pour my heart out to her in hopes that maybe she would pay me the same respect. And she did, to her credit. She told me everything about her mother and grandmother and Lusha. But then she repays my friendship with this?”

  The princess dropped to the bed and held her head in her hands. Cora sat down next to her and started gently braiding her wild chestnut hair and white streak.

  “We are all only human. I’m sure she did not do it to spite you. It was but a moment of weakness. Even the strongest of us can fall prey.” Said the priestess softly.

  “I don’t care!” snapped Atreyis. “I’m just so—so angry with her. My chest physically hurts and my veins feel like fire is coursing through them. I’ve never been so angry in my life. And it scares me to no end because I have no control over it. I can’t fathom why this one incident, this one indiscretion, has me so on edge. My entire life has been about the control that everyone else seems to think that they need to have over me, to protect me. But then I decide that enough is enough, and I take back that control. At the same time Ky comes into my life. The next thing I know I am fighting for myself for once. I’m proving everyone wrong. I don’t need anyone to protect me. I am more of a warrior than they could ever imagine. Then just as I was getting used to having control over myself, my life, she goes and does this!”

  “But, Atreyis.” Taryn adjusted her green dress. “This doesn’t take away from the strength that you have shown. The only control she has is whatever you give her. If you don’t want her to have any, then don’t let her. Look at the situation for what it is. Ky pretends to be this all-powerful, in-control warrior, when in reality she has no army to command, no control over any one of us, and most of all, no control over the one person she hates most in this world. She is grasping at smoke. She just makes it appear as if she actually has ahold of anything.”

  “Taryn’s right.” Said Cora. “She only has power if you let her. Actually, if you think about it, you hold all the power.”

  “Huh?” Atreyis wiped her eyes.

  “How do you figure that?” asked Taryn.

  “Think about it.” Said Cora with confidence. “If you had never decided to sneak out of the palace to try and visit me, you would have never ended up in the woods. You would have never run into Ky. The entire Aznurro kingdom might quite possibly have been invaded by the Black Army by now. We would never have come on this mission. And if we weren’t out here trying to end what Ultrek and Lusha started, who knows where this entire world might be right now. Don’t you see? You have all the power because you decided that you had power and control over your life.”

  “A bit dramatic.” Smiled Taryn. “But it works.”

  “There.” Said Cora as she tied off the braid. “So what do you think?”

  Atreyis walked over to a small mirror. She took a few moments and looked herself over. Her sapphire eyes were a little red from tears, but not too bad. She paused a moment as she stared at the girl in the mirror in the red dress. The princess hardly recognized herself. It wasn’t some overly-done dress like she had worn a hundred times over for banquets, feasts, and royal duties. This was different. The silky red fabric hugged her curves in all of the right places, and was thankfully so very simple.
She still didn’t like it though. It was just another costume. She wished all the world that she could wear her armor instead. She played with her long side braid and took a deep breath.

  “I think Horgath is in trouble.” She stated definitively.

  Taryn let her hair down and combed it out. The lime green of her dress stood out in perfect contrast with her beautifully flawless dark skin.

  “You both look so amazing.” Smiled Cora. “I just have one question. Where exactly are your weapons supposed to go?”

  The priestess giggled as the two fighters looked around themselves. Both came up empty handed.

  “Daggers in our boots?” offered Atreyis.

  “You can’t seriously think that we could wear the same boots we fought in the battle of Stone Shield with these delicate dresses?” laughed Taryn. “Even I know that would be a little obvious.”

  “Well I have an extra pair of sandals that might fit you, Taryn.” Offered Cora. “Maybe Ky found something else wherever she got the dresses.”

  Atreyis rolled her eyes. They made their way downstairs. Ky was sitting trying to put on a pair of sandals that were a size too small. Her head popped up when she heard the creak of the old wooden stairs. The warrior stopped in the middle of what she was doing and stood up. Her gray eyes threatened to pop out of her head. Before her stood a blue-eyed Iyara. Her heart stopped a moment. Whatever discussions happening between Ehren, Riker and Joslette came to a halt. Atreyis tried to brush off the attention.

  “Ready?” she asked Ky.

  The warrior swallowed hard. “Y—yes. Just let me finish putting this on.”

  The princess cleared her throat. “Do you happen to have another pair? Cora only had one other and they fit Taryn the best.”

  “S—sure. Let me grab them.” The warrior slipped back into Iyara’s room.

  Riker held Atreyis’ gaze for a moment as the women made their way over to the strategy session. The princess’ face turned bright red and she readied her fist. Riker stepped towards her but then at the last moment stepped aside and grabbed Taryn’s hand.

  “Hello, my Emerald.” His kissed her hand.

  Taryn ripped her hand out of his and gave him a hard shove. “Dammit, Riker!”

  The impishly smiling Ranger stumbled back a step. He put an arm on Ehren’s shoulder.

  “Forgive me, friend, but it seems a beautiful Sapphire isn’t the only prized jewel anymore.”

  Ehren rolled his eyes. “A jeweler you are not. It’s best to let these things go, friend.”

  “Then how’s about we leave these damsels to get in distress while the two of us go save the world?” he slapped the prince on the back.

  “I think my sister has your answer.” Said Ehren as he turned back to their plans.

  Atreyis stood with her arms crossed, glaring at Riker. He held up his hands in defeat. Ky returned with a pair of sandals for Atreyis. The princess promptly put them on.

  “So how is this going to happen? We can’t just walk in with swords or even a dagger.” Said Taryn.

  “We don’t have to.” Said Ky matter-of-factly. “The guards will be armed. Once they have enough drink in them it won’t be too difficult to rid them of their arms. It’s simple. We don’t drink, we just keep the ale flowing for them. Then, when they are of a certain persuasion, we lead them out into the alley, knock them out, and take their stuff. I’ve got some rope that I will leave outside for us to use.”

  “But what if they don’t want to take it outside?” countered Atreyis. “What if they get a taste for having some privacy in a room?”

  “Don’t give them the option.” Said Ky plainly. “If you get uncomfortable just get Taryn or myself to come help out. Don’t worry, you will be fine.”

  Chapter 11

  The night was warm and the streets were relatively empty. Taryn, Atreyis, and Ky silently made their way to the tavern that the warrior had decided on. Atreyis stared at Ky’s back. The sky blue dress did little to hide the warrior’s muscular physique. In an attempt to hide her true nature, Ky had let her straight hair down, hiding the shaved sides of her head, and covering up some of her dragon tattoo. Taryn and Cora had positioned themselves just so that the others did not see that the back of Atreyis’ dress revealed her freshly inked skin. The thought of showing Ky her impressive body art had crossed the princess’ mind. She would rub it in the warrior’s face that hers was better, that she lay there practically from sun up to sun down and withstood the pain. But as quickly as the thought appeared she let it go.

  The tavern was soon heard before they even saw it. Loud music and shouts rounded the corner. It was nothing like the run-down Huntress. The building was two floors of people drinking and dancing. A large fire blazed brightly in the center of the place and hundreds of lit candles decorated the walls and tables. Dozens of guards and soldiers filled the place. Scantily clad women danced around and served them their drinks and food. Atreyis and Taryn’s noses flared in disgust. Ky stood blankly gripping the rope tightly.

  “Stay together the best you can. If you get into a situation that you can’t handle grab one of us for help. If you can’t, don’t be afraid to run. They won’t go after you. There are plenty of others here.” Said the warrior cool as ice. “I’m going around back to hide the rope. Do whatever you can to get your target out of there and out back, or at least away from here. Got it?”

  “Easy enough.” Said Taryn with utmost confidence.

  “Sure.” Said Atreyis half-annoyed.

  The warrior jogged off. Taryn and Atreyis stayed close to each other as the plunged headfirst into the cesspit. The delicious scent of food and the inviting smell of the bonfire were quickly replaced with the stench of sweat and booze. All around them people were stuffing their faces, dumping drinks down their greedy gullets, and dancing the night away. Anger bubbled in Atreyis’ belly. To think that Gerald had practically lived at places like this turned her stomach. She flinched at the memory of their fights, and the times that he had dared lay hands on her. They had barely stepped inside before a hand reached out and grabbed Taryn.

  “More drinks!” slurred the man as he slapped some coins into Taryn’s hand. He was dressed in civilian clothes. Taryn flashed a fake smile and skipped off with the money with Atreyis in tow. The palace guard slammed the money down on the bar. The barmaid quickly filled her arms with drinks. Atreyis glanced back at the man. He was finishing off a drink and wasn’t paying attention to where his money had walked off.

  “Now’s our chance.” She said in Taryn’s ear. She pointed over to the corner where a group of four guards dressed in the royal colors were sitting back enjoying the entertainment in front of them. Taryn took the cue and carried over her armful of drinks.

  “Here you go boys.” She smiled as she set the drinks on their table.

  They looked confused.

  “We didn’t order these.” Said one of the men.

  “It’s on the house.” Atreyis winked at him.

  The guards looked at each other and shrugged. One brave man grabbed a tankard and threw it back.

  “Many thanks to you lovely ladies!” he laughed.

  From seemingly out of nowhere Ky sat down on the lap of one of the guards.

  “Thaemo is in safe hands if such strong men as yourselves are protecting us.” She flirted.

  The man wrapped a thick arm around her. “You got that right. Now how do three lovely ladies find yourselves amongst such vigorous company?”

  Atreyis sat down on another soldier’s lap. “Because in our travels, never have we found such a place full of worthy men.” She twisted the long hair of the man’s beard in her fingers.

  A third man pulled Taryn into his lap. “You’re lucky that we are men of discerning taste or else you ladies may find yourselves without dancing partners tonight.”

  It took everything that Taryn had not to cringe at his breath and his stench. She wondered when the last time he took a bath was. A fake smile fixed itself on her face as she hid her disgus
t. If he were to clean himself up he would be half-decent.

  “Let’s dance, m’lady!” The guard that Atreyis was sitting on suddenly stood up and pulled her towards the dancing crowd. The princess glanced back at Taryn and Ky with pleading eyes. The other two women made sure that their targets kept drinking, but the warrior kept a wary eye on the two of them. The guard began dancing garishly while the princess reluctantly joined in. He grabbed her and spun her around. After a few minutes of dancing Atreyis actually found herself having fun. The man actually wasn’t bad looking, and a pretty good dancer. As they danced around Atreyis found a way to sneak drinks from tables and always keep his hands full.

  Two hours later all three men were very visibly drunk. Neither one of them could stand without holding on to something to keep them upright. Taryn and Ky had both been dragged onto the dance floor as well. As the two of them danced with their sloshed counterparts Ky, out of the corner of her eye, saw Atreyis drag her mark into a corner and push him into a seat. He drunkenly smiled as she sat down straddling him. She placed another tankard in his hand as she leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. It was then that the princess’ revealing dress showed the impressive new artwork she had acquired. Ky tripped over her feet as she tried to keep dancing. Suddenly, the man grabbed Atreyis by the face and smashed his face into hers, kissing her. Ky stopped dead in her tracks. The whole world seemed to stand still. The passing seconds felt like hours. Atreyis finally broke the kiss. She felt like she was about to vomit in her mouth, but she held her own. She stood up and wrapped his collar in her hand. She looked over her shoulder at Ky, staring the warrior down, as she pulled the man up and started to lead him out of the tavern. Ky watched, unsure of what feeling was bubbling under her skin. She blinked and came back to reality. Looking over at Taryn, she caught her attention and began dragging her mark out, following Atreyis. Taryn did the same. The three intoxicated men gladly followed their captors into the cooler outside air.