by Nira Steele
“Well I told you to stay put didn’t I?” she declared. “Look I’ll go as fast as I can. I just need to feed the animals and grab some stuff.” Turning towards the house she was then confronted by a large spotted hen. A pair of fierce yellow eyes was staring up from the back stairs.
“I’m really sorry Speckles. I’ll put out some pellets for you really soon,” she told the angry bird.
The glaring continued.
Rolling her eyes Andie released a heavy sigh. She was beginning to feel like a badly harassed zookeeper. Dodging a barrage of furious pecks she dashed up the steps and crossed the veranda. Opening the back door she was forced to let the goat inside.
It really was an awful creature. Once it skittered over the threshold, it snorted loudly before trotting back outside.
Andie glared at its hairy beige rump as it left the room. Then she looked around at the living area, noting nothing had changed since she left. It felt so surreal standing here now as if she was no longer a part of the normal world. A strange thought came to her - was any of this actually real? She found herself staring at her surroundings.
Shaking her head Andie collected herself.
“Get a grip,” she muttered.
Then she headed straight upstairs to her room. Finding her college satchel she retrieved her phone and checked for any messages… but it was dead. Sighing, she left it to re-charge on her bedside table.
Gathering up some toiletries and underwear she stuffed them hastily into her satchel. Heading back downstairs she made a quick pass through the lounge area. As she was moving past her aunt’s cabinets a particular object caught her eye.
Puckering her lips, she opened one of the large glass doors and removed a pair of aviator’s goggles.
The process of feeding her aunt’s pets took much longer than she anticipated. There were three grumpy cats, a collection of irate chickens, some dour looking ravens and one very surly goat. There was also quite a bit of cleaning up to do especially around the chicken coop and back veranda. As she was filling the automatic cat feeder she stepped in something vaguely resembling a large hairball….
In the end Andie decided to abandon the cleaning.
The dragon sat behind the back fence intently watching all of the proceedings. Keeping his head completely still he seemed to be fascinated by what she was doing.
After packing away the last feed bag Andie made an announcement to the yard.
“Okay I’m done. Can you try not to kill yourselves for another two days?” she declared.
The hairy billy goat stomped towards her and raised its head into the air. Twitching its bushy flanks it proceeded to bare its long crooked teeth at her. Andie glanced at it briefly, unable to withstand its strange unblinking stare. The hoary old beast had been giving her the creeps ever since she was a little girl.
Shuffling away she quickly headed back inside.
Dashing upstairs she briefly responded to some messages on her phone. Then she placed it back on her dressing table, knowing she would never be able to recharge it in Lunaris. Racing downstairs Andie grabbed her satchel and checked the house before leaving. Locking the door she then briskly traversed the yard and unlatched the wooden gate. As soon as it creaked open she was confronted with another glare.
“Oh come on! It’s not far to go and nobody else is here to feed them. Do you want to explain to my aunt why her pets have starved?”
Making a low grumble the dragon turned his head away.
Rolling her eyes Andie climbed up into the saddle.
“I’m so done with animals,” she muttered.
Chapter 6 - The Great Secret
Clouds were rolling in as they headed back towards town.
Andie knew she had run well over her normal flight time today. Despite rushing like crazy it had still taken her ages to feed her aunt’s menagerie. Some of the messes had been cleaned up but the chicken coop still resembled a battlefield.
She had done everything she could within the limited time she had today. It gave her some relief to know she wasn’t completely disappointing her aunt. Andie was determined to catch up on things when she came back in another two days.
Shifting her weight in the saddle she began gazing around at the scenery speeding by. Then she noticed the surrounding forest did not look as dense as it usually was. All around her the thick canopy of trees seemed to be gradually thinning out. As they passed over another large hill the woodlands abruptly gave way….
To a desolate expanse.
This definitely wasn’t a place Andie recognised. Beginning to frown she felt the brief warmth of the sun upon her back. They were going east now, not south as they should have been.
“Where are you taking us?” she called out.
Grunting briefly the dragon began ascending as he headed for a row of jagged peaks.
Scanning around Andie began wondering what would draw him to such a place. The land here was bleak with barely a smattering of stunted foliage clinging to the ground.
Nevari Island was over six hundred kilometres wide, making it more like a miniature continent really. Being close to the equator its coastal areas were lush and tropical but travel inland and things would begin to change. Thirty kilometres from the shoreline the landscape began transforming dramatically. As the ground rose steadily the air would start cooling rapidly with the altitude. When you arrived at the little village of Bakersfield you were already seven thousand feet above sea level.
Travel even further and the hills rose up until they started forming into peaks. As the terrain became rough you would reach the point where you could no longer travel by land. Towering before you was a wall of stone marking the edge of the Nevari central mountain range. Soaring above were white lofty peaks reaching to well over twenty thousand feet.
Andie was at the edge of this place now. It was brutally harsh, yet somehow utterly beautiful in its cold and empty silence.
Slowly they glided through the crisp clean air as they curled their way around the rugged mountainsides. Arcing past another sharp peak the dragon quickly tilted his head to the side. Flaring the spines along the back of his jaw, a sharp twitch quivered through his wings.
“What’s up boy?” Andie called out.
She felt a grunt roll through the body beneath her.
“Have a look then,” she yelled, hoping he had found what he had come for.
He began turning towards an outcrop on a nearby mountain. As they approached the surface the wind shear started to buffet them harshly. Clutching onto the pommel Andie heard a very strange sound. It was coming from the dragon - a kind of high pitched groan. Then his head abruptly disappeared….
Andie started floating up out of the saddle.
“You can’t land here!” she bellowed as they dropped into a dive. Within moments a wall of dark stone was looming up in front of her. Its surface blurred into a smear as they plummeted down.
Gripping onto the pommel Andie rammed her heels in hard. But her efforts had no effect on the dragon at all. Watching helplessly she hung on with every ounce of strength she had. They continued falling until they entered a sudden darkness.
Then she heard the dull thump of flaring wings. A few seconds later she felt a bounce, the distinct mark of a surprisingly soft landing. Clutching her chest she gasped as the air around her became silent.
They had landed in a deep pocket within the side of the mountain. Scouring the area Andie could not make out anything in the darkness. The dragon ambled forward, letting his huge claws scrape noisily over the stones. A few steps later he stopped and began grunting softly as he dipped one wing.
Andie leaned forward and slapped a large scale.
“I’m not staying here while you go hunting,” she stated in a slightly tremulous voice.
The huge body beneath her started bobbing.
“Oh come on! What am I supposed to do in here? Stare at the freaking walls?” she protested into the dark.
Squinting around she could not see a single sp
ot which looked remotely comfortable to sit. Lifting up her newly acquired goggles she then waited for her eyes to adjust. As she continued scouring the cave she spotted something in the back corner.
Was that a fireplace? And some kind of a small shelter?
“Who’s in here?” she asked the dragon.
He lowered himself to the ground and continued grunting as he settled onto the rocks. Realising he wasn’t going anywhere Andie climbed down and unhooked her satchel.
This cave was obviously inhabited by someone. She could see a small tentlike shelter, a well-used camp fire and a pile of dry wood just next to it. Then she noticed two large leather sacks positioned next to a barrel containing water.
Stepping forward she dropped her bag as her mind began reeling with thoughts. No human could get into this cave so whoever set this up must have ridden inside. Maybe it was a refugee from House Solista? Or perhaps it was even the owner of this dragon?
Then the air filled with a strange rushing sound, almost as if the atmosphere was being compressed. A moment later an unexpected sound emerged from somewhere in the darkness.
“Welcome to my camp,” a male voice called out.
Andie’s eyes shot open. Spinning around she sought the source of those strangely accented words. All she found was the large leather saddle sitting on the ground in the middle of the cave.
The dragon had disappeared but that wasn’t possible - he was there just a second ago. As she stared intently at the ground her skin began prickling.
Then a burst of light filled the cave.
Recoiling from the flash Andie flung her arms up over her face. Squinting over her shoulder, she could not see anything through the brightness. Then the light died down as the camp fire calmed into a flicker. Blinking away the glare she slowly began dropping her arms. She noticed a new object just behind the fire - but it wasn’t an object, it was tall and narrow and….
It was a man. He was young, perhaps in his early twenties with a mane of long dark hair. Tall, well-muscled with honey coloured skin he stood out in the darkness like a ghost.
A completely naked ghost.
Andie emitted a shriek as she collapsed to the ground.
“Hey it’s okay! I won’t hurt you,” the young man called out to her.
“Stay back!” Andie choked out.
Raising his hands into the air he started moving away from the fireplace.
“Just give me a minute Andie. I’ll find something to put on.”
Stunned by the use of her name, she blinked into the fire as he turned towards the tent.
“My apologies. I’ve spent way too long in my dragon form,” he said before disappearing into the shelter.
Andie stared at the little encampment as she tried to make sense of what he had just said. Then the young man reappeared wearing something which looked like a long dark kilt. His upper body was covered with a thick black top, the cuffs and neckline glimmering in the firelight. On his feet was a pair of boots gleaming with a smooth dark polish. Smiling warmly he reached behind his head and casually tied his hair back.
“Come over to the fire. You must be feeling the cold,” he said amiably.
Andie stayed where she was and fixed her eyes onto him.
“Please come sit with me and I’ll explain everything,” he entreated her. Sauntering over to the rucksacks he retrieved a thick rug from the largest of the bags. Positioning it carefully beside the fireplace he then sat down on one end. Patting the patterned fabric he gave her a little grin. “Come on, I won’t bite.”
Slowly she levered herself off the ground. Grabbing her satchel Andie held it against her chest.
“Who are you?” she managed to squeak out.
“My name is Darius. I hail from House Solista,” he responded smoothly.
Hearing his words Andie recalled Terenus’s speech to her just a few days ago. He had said the dragon originated from that House.
“Have they told you what happened to my people?” he asked her.
“Your House was attacked,” she replied quietly as she lowered her bag.
“I am pleased they have shared something with you.”
Andie began shuffling towards the camp fire. Keeping her eyes fixed on Darius she sat down slowly on the far edge of the rug.
“Let us begin by filling you in on a few things.” Crossing his legs Darius leaned forward to rest his elbows onto his knees. “Firstly I am a Draconarid like everyone else you’ve met in Lunaris. I know it might sound strange but we are all pretty much the same. We share something in particular you will not be aware of. It is the greatest secret we have.”
He paused for a moment before continuing. “Draconarid are part human, part dragon. We transform ourselves by the use of elemental energy. Every House has distinct abilities but we all possess this one particular trait.”
Andie pressed her fingers to her mouth.
“I know it sounds unbelievable but it’s true,” he said gently.
“But they’re all just people,” she murmured between her fingers.
Leaning back languidly he placed his hands behind himself. Lifting his chin a tiny smirk began tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Okay then. How many dragons have you actually seen apart from me?”
Her eyes moved up to the wall, searching and thinking.
“None,” he declared confidently. “I know this because there’s a flight ban in place. You and I are the only ones allowed in the air at the moment.”
“It’s because you don’t like the other dragons isn’t it?” Andie responded.
“This is true but it is not the reason. The Lunarians are using you to get to me.”
“What?”
“We are being isolated so we will form a connection. They believe it will encourage me to speak to them.” Sitting up straight he levelled a stare at her. “That isn’t going to happen though.”
“I don’t get it. Aren’t they trying to help you?” she said quietly as her hands fell into her lap.
“You do not understand my little human. Things are not as they seem.”
Andie sucked in a long slow breath in an effort to calm herself. Closing her eyes she could feel the hard thumping of her heart against her ribs. However she knew this was not a moment to be losing her nerve. Something amazing, something truly extraordinary was happening here. If she could just focus her mind she might discover what was actually going on. Looking up she forced a question from her lips.
“Well explain it then because you’re making no sense to me. The people in Lunaris have been nothing but kind to you. For goodness sakes they welcomed you into their home -”
“Andie,” he interjected firmly. Rising to his feet he sauntered off towards the tent.
Blinking at his back Andie decided not to press him any further. Watching him walk away she could not help noticing how he moved. Rather surprisingly she recalled the elegant glide Willa managed so effortlessly.
Spotting something above his tent Darius released a little gasp as he rose onto his toes. Retrieving a container filled with water he began bobbing up and down.
Andie continued watching him keenly as he carried it over to the barrel. As he leaned forward to empty the container his hair shimmered in the firelight. It was filled with bright ruby highlights, the colour so rich it almost took her breath away. She felt an urge - she just had to ask….
“Did my hair save me from being eaten?” she asked quietly.
Darius let out a short deep laugh.
“I wasn’t going to devour you,” he responded mirthfully. “It was far too nice seeing another redhead. Truth be told, I was rather conflicted as you do smell quite delicious.”
Andie had no idea how to respond to such a statement. Slumping forward she was grateful he was still facing away from her.
He let out a little chuckle as he turned towards her.
“Humans don’t normally smell so pleasant. I’m presuming it is because of your lineage. Your aunt is a Merchant I belie
ve?”
“Yes,” she replied with an upward glance. “But how would you know that?”
He offered her no response as he returned the container to its spot. Raising her eyes Andie looked at his back, unable to fathom why he was avoiding her questions.
“Please tell me what’s going on. I’m so tired of being kept in the dark,” she asked softly.
“Do you think you can stomach it?”
“You just told me you’re a dragon. Did you worry about that before you said it?”
“Very well then,” he responded. “But prepare yourself for some surprises.”
Returning to his place next to the fire Darius started revealing something extraordinary. He wasn’t just any Draconarid - he was a member of House Solista’s royal family.
“My House is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico. We have lived there for countless centuries,” he informed her. “At first I thought the attack was a coup as that is how all the ruling families rise to power.”
“Really?” she muttered.
“The Draconarid who can to harness the most elemental energy always becomes the Overlord. It’s the sole determiner in who rules, nothing else counts at all. When an Overlord produces offspring they can sometimes become a threat. Other members of the House can be an issue too, especially when the Overlord starts to age.”
“So you think someone from inside did it?” Andie asked carefully.
“No, we were definitely attacked from the outside,” Darius stated. “My people would never flee if it was merely a grab for power.” Casting his eyes towards the fire his voice softened into a murmur. “For fifteen hundred years the Houses have been at peace. There hasn’t been a war since we signed the treaties. I cannot believe there are Draconarid who seek to destroy such harmony.”
“Are you certain it was your people?”
“This atrocity was committed by my kind. Humans cannot detect our settlements or penetrate our shields.”
Andie sat there with her mouth slightly open. She knew deep down she should not be surprised by what she was hearing. Palaces with Overlords and people dropping to their knees… these things did not indicate a naturally peaceful society.
