Dragon's Claws

by Bri Sailor

  “So letting your husband take an innocent person to their death, is that something that you didn’t want to do but let it happen anyways? When I was helping those people in the forest I have never felt so right in my life. I did more by trying to save those people than I ever have by being a princess.

  Arainya clenched her jaw. “She is no innocent. Your father is doing what is best for our people and all the people that that woman has slaughtered. Regardless if she actually saved your life and had no part in the attack in the first place, it does not make up for a lifetime of evil.”

  “He is executing her! How is that any different than what Ky has done?”

  “I trust your father’s judgement and you need to as well.”

  Atreyis pushed past the queen and took her bounty into the house. The queen was right on her trail.

  “Atreyis, don’t you walk away from me. We aren’t finished.”

  “What?” huffed the princess. “What more do we have to talk about? It’s clear that we aren’t ever going to agree on anything.”

  “Before you go passing judgement on your father I think that you need to know the whole story.”

  “And what would that be?”

  The queen took a breath. “To understand what is happening now, you have to understand what caused it all in the first place. You remember the stories I told you about the gods when you were a child?”

  “Yes.” The princess rolled her eyes and began reciting. “The goddess Ailana created the dragons and one day one of them became evil. Then the other four fought the evil one and won. And that’s how we got the four kingdoms and how the Descended came to be.”

  She started washing and cutting up the vegetables.

  “Yes and no.” said the queen.

  Ehren had finished the deer and brought in the meat. “I think that we should be set for a while.”

  Arainya gestured to the large pot hanging over the fire. “Just put it in there, we will dry the rest for later.”

  The queen picked up where she left off. “Ehren, you need to hear this as much as your sister does.”

  “Need to hear what?” asked the prince.

  “Bedtime stories.” Mumbled Atreyis sarcastically.

  “Atreyis!” bit the queen. “Please. Just listen to what I have to tell you.”

  The queen gestured to the lounges and chairs that were around the fireplace. She cleared her throat and smoothed her dress.

  “Long ago. Before there were the Xaemox, Khenná, Aznurro, and Quinmor, mankind was in chaos. We were in tribes spread across the lands and constantly at war with each other, but there were worse things happening in the heavenly realms. The gods were at war. You see, before there was the realm of men there was the heavenly realm. In the place there was a balance between the Light and the Darkness, until one day when Darkness fought back. The gods spent millennia fighting against the dark forces and were winning. But then the evil spilled over into the realm of men, creating more chaos and war. The Goddess took pity on us and sent her children Emox, Khá, Aznu, Morlex, and Béloneras to defend us against the demons of the dark: the Mälgrav. With the help of the Goddess and her children the Darkness and its demons were defeated. However, Béloneras turned on the Goddess. The gods, having spent their energies fighting the evil were unable to contain the beast, and it fell to the dragons to seal away their sibling. But in order to do so, they gave up their heavenly forms and assumed that of man. It is from them that we get our abilities.”

  The princess crossed her arms. “Mother, we already know this story. It’s nothing new.”

  The queen shot her a look. “If you would let me finish.”

  “Atreyis, just be quiet.” Ehren rolled his eyes in consternation.

  “Now, to prevent another war, and to protect us against the growing evil, the Goddess granted mankind a way to protect itself against it. It is said that if the great dragon were to rise again, the Goddess’ weapon would make itself known and would stop the evil once more.”

  “How would we know if the dragon was back?” interrupted Ehren. “And what is this weapon exactly? Where do we get it and how do we use it?”

  “That’s exactly what your father has been asking since this war started. He believes that this war is the prophecy coming true. And the weapon isn’t a thing, it’s a person or persons. Your father has spent the last few months absolutely buried in the ancient texts and consulting Cora. The problem is that the texts are muddy as to the details and hard to translate. All that is certain is that they are supposedly twin souls associated with both the sun and moon.”

  Ehren leapt clean out of his seat. “Wait! You’re not saying that father—“

  Arainya held up a hand. “Your father didn’t necessarily think that it is one of you. But when Ky showed up, he took it as a sign that the Black King was trying to get both of you. Which confirmed his fears; that Ultrek is the dragon rising again and that one or both of you is the weapon of the Goddess. Hence his new obsession with Ky.”

  “That’s crazy!” shouted Atreyis. “There’s no way that Ultrek is the dragon! And don’t you think that we would know if one of us was the weapon of the Goddess? This is all madness! He is just perpetuating the evil, not stopping it.”

  The queen stood up. “Your father is saving our people. I will hear no more of this.”

  The princess threw her hands up in the air and stormed out. Ehren just sat, pensive, lost in thought. The queen let her go and checked the stew. Atreyis stomped out to the stream and threw herself down. She kicked off her boots and stuck her feet in the cool water. There was no way that she or Ehren could be a weapon, at least she didn’t feel like one. And as for the Goddess, she had prayed to her over and over again for guidance and to feel like she belonged, but got nothing in return. The Goddess was deaf and her father was mad. The princess hung her head. Things were so messed up, she should have never even left the palace. Everything felt like it was her fault.

  The rest of the day was spent in relative silence. Atreyis had locked herself in her small room and refused to come out. Nothing the prince could say and nothing the queen could do could get her to come out. After three days the prince had had enough.

  “Atreyis.” Ehren knocked on her door. “This is ridiculous. Come out of there.”

  Silence.

  “Atreyis! I will break this door down if I have to.”

  He looked at the queen. She nodded. He took a step back and kicked the door in. The room was empty.

  “Where’s Lux?” the prince’s face was drawn in a taught scowl.

  Fearing the worst the queen ran outside. The horse was nowhere to be seen.

  “She’s gone!” exclaimed the queen. She kicked herself. How could they not have noticed that her horse was missing?

  Ehren came barreling out of the house and leapt onto his horse’s saddle.

  “Where are you going?” yelled the queen.

  “I’m going after her and bringing her back here before something else happens!” shouted Ehren in a rage.

  “You can’t! What if something happens to you as well? The guards will stop her from getting too far.”

  “I don’t trust them. I will be back before the day is over.”

  The queen’s blue eyes teared up.

  “Please, Ehren. Don’t go.” Pleaded the queen.

  “Mother, I must. I let her slip through my hands once before and she almost lost her life. I can’t let that happen.”

  He spurred his horse and crossed through the barrier and took off after his sister. The queen stood wringing her hands. What was she going to do?

  Chapter 12

  Atreyis had paced in her room so much that she thought she was going to wear a hole in the floor. The last time she had done something so impetuous it had nearly ended her life. On the other hand, it had opened up a whole new world; one that was much more complex and dangerous than the sheltered one she grew up in. And it was tearing her apart. She blew the flyaway white strand of hair out of her face. T
here was no way that this so called prophecy really meant anything. Dragons haven’t ever existed, and the Descended were simply blessed by the gods of old. She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach, which caused her rage to resurface. What her father was doing was no better than Ultrek or anything that Ky had ever done. He was becoming a butcher himself. She steeled her nerves.

  Her window was thankfully large enough to fit herself through. She didn’t waste a moment and grabbed her sword and made her escape. The early morning sun provided just enough light for her to navigate her way to where Lux was waiting. She gripped his reins and quietly let him to the edge of the barrier. Looking around she made sure that Arainya and Ehren weren’t aware of her escape she crossed the threshold. Immediately, she found the mystical orb and lit it up, her pathway once more revealed. She hopped on Lux and gave him a kick and took off towards the wooded entrance. As the sun rose, smoke from a smoldering fire stopped her in her tracks. Damn. She forgot about the guards. She turned Lux and traveled parallel to the edge of the woods until it was safe to cross, undetected. The moment they reached the open field the white horse took off at a full gallop. Atreyis was determined to stop her father from killing Ky no matter what it took, but first she needed to make it back to Lynica.

  It was night by the time the princess reached the city. The moonlight shining on the domes of the buildings and the glowing torchlight provided no comforting warmth, the city seemed cold, desolate; it no longer felt like home. The city gate was open sufficiently to allow her to pass through and nothing else. The guards gave her a funny look but let her into the city. The streets were quiet and dimly lit. Lux’s footsteps echoed off the buildings and paved roads as they made their way towards the coast and Taryn’s family villa.

  The marble villa looked like a smaller version of the palace. It had white stone walls and a tower, but it was much more squat and long. A garden in the back stood between the house and the surrounding protective city wall. A small iron door allowed the inhabitants to visit the white sand beach that lay just beyond it. Atreyis confidently rode up to the gate and dismounted without a word and motioned for the guards to let her in. The doors flew open and she walked straight through the courtyard and down a dark hallway. She stopped at a large wooden door and took a breath. Straightening her back she knocked softly. No answer. Quietly, she opened the door. In the pale light she could see the expansive room. It was similar to her own, however, the ceiling was shorter and the terrace took place of a balcony. A slumbering figure lay in the bed nearby. Atreyis walked over and sat down.

  “Taryn.” She nudged the sleeping girl.

  The raven-haired girl stretched and opened an eye. “Atreyis? What are you doing here?”

  “Well, you said that the next time I was going to run off I was supposed to tell you, or take you, or something.”

  Taryn sat up on her elbows. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m about to do something that could very well be the dumbest thing I’ve ever done, or the most heroic. I want you to promise me that you won’t tell anyone.”

  “Don’t think that I’ve forgiven you for earlier.” Taryn yawned and rubbed her eyes. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to save Ky and stop my father. He needs to be stopped. All of this fighting is pointless and gets us nowhere.” She stood up. “I’m sick and tired of petty politics and ancient councils deciding things. There has to be a better way than all of this.”

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Taryn threw off her covers and jumped up. “No, no. You’re not going anywhere. Atreyis, didn’t you learn anything from the last time? This is insane! What do you think you’ll accomplish? That you father will just let Ky go? That you can talk sense into him? Please, you just have to let her go. I don’t understand what this obsession is.”

  The princess went on the offensive.

  “It’s not an obsession!” she threw her hands in the air. “You just don’t understand. You’ve never had someone save your life, you’ve never almost died!”

  “That was your own fault! You almost died because you had to go play hero!” accused Taryn.

  “I couldn’t just let those people die! You would understand if you had been there.”

  “No, what you could have done was stay in the temple to begin with.”

  “I told you I couldn’t! I have to leave!”

  “Really? You had to? Why? What was so pressing that you had to leave the safety of your lands and venture out into Goddess knows where?”

  “I—I just—” stammered the flustered princess. “I just had to. There was something pulling me out there. I can’t explain it.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes.”

  The princess stared down her friend. After a few tense moments she relented. They both flopped down on Taryn’s bed and stared up at the ceiling. They laid in relative silence for a few minutes.

  Taryn blew out a breath. “You didn’t come here just to argue. Why did you really come here?”

  “I’m not exactly sure.” Sighed the princess.

  “Is it possible that you wanted me to stop you?”

  Atreyis sat up and crossed her arms. “No.”

  “Then what’s your brilliant plan?”

  “Depends. Are you going to help me or stop me?”

  Taryn sat up. “Something tells me that no matter what I choose it won’t make a difference. But it is easier to keep an eye on you and make sure that you stay intact this time. Plus, you’re basically my sister.”

  “You’re really going to help me?” asked Atreyis timidly.

  “Do I really have a choice? I’m the one who agreed to train you. Who taught you the skills—’’

  The princess answered her friend with a crushing bear hug.

  “Oof! What’s the plan?” croaked Taryn.

  Atreyis jumped up and raided the girl’s armoire. “First, we have to find something for you to wear.”

  She threw a wine-colored long sleeved shirt and a pair of black pants on the bed.

  Taryn arched an eyebrow. “What, no black on black? No leather?”

  “Huh?”

  “Never mind.”

  Taryn dressed quickly and then retrieved her horse. Atreyis led them down through the deserted streets. As they neared the northern gate Atreyis took a sharp turn. The gray, windowless building stood out amongst the white marble of the city. It loomed over the surrounding dwellings, the arrow loops making it all the more impressive. Much to her surprise there were only two guards blocking the door.

  “Why are we here?” whispered Taryn.

  “I can’t just walk onto the battle field without being recognized and my father stopping me.” Whispered Atreyis. “The best chance for me to infiltrate the camp is to actually wear the same armor. At least attempt to blend in.”

  “That’s a great idea.” Said Taryn somewhat sarcastically.

  “Thanks.”

  “There’s one small problem. Your eyes are a dead giveaway. How exactly do you plan on hiding that particular feature?”

  “Eyes down and a decent helmet.” Atreyis was completely serious.

  The two girls dismounted and left the horses in the alley.

  “Now what?” asked Taryn.

  “This…” Atreyis strode confidently up to the soldiers.

  Taryn tripped over herself following behind. The soldiers saw the figures moving in the shadows and drew their swords.

  “Who goes there?” shouted one of the guards.

  Atreyis stepped into the torchlight.

  “Princess?” stuttered the guard. “What are you doing here?”

  They sheathed their weapons.

  Atreyis narrowed her eyes. “Royal business that doesn’t concern you. Now open the door and I shall be on my way.”

  The guards looked at each other in confusion.

  “Open the door! Your princess commands it.” Commanded Taryn.

  The bumbling soldiers scrambled to unlock the door. The princess d
idn’t even look at them as she entered the armory. Dim torchlight flickered and bounced off the rows of broad swords and short swords and deadly sharp edges. Hanging above them were racks of spears, double-sided battleaxes, and war hammers. The center row contained chain mail, bracers, gauntlets, greaves and pauldrons. Along the wall were the breast and back plates with shelves covered in bows, crossbows, and quivers filled with precision arrows and bolts. Taryn moved through the aisles, her reflection moving in the polished surfaces. She caught her reflection and smiled at it. Atreyis began grabbing items and started to suit up.

  “Well?” she looked over at the hesitant Taryn. “Are you coming with me or not?”

  Her friend nodded vigorously and followed suit. In no time they were dressed to the hilt. Just as the princess was about to reach for a helmet she noticed a small shelf on the wall covered with small tins. She took one of them and opened it. Inside was a thick black substance. A curious Taryn peered over her shoulder.

  “Is that paint?”

  “Yes.” Said the princess matter-of-factly. She looked at the inky black for a moment. “I was taught that many soldiers use it to help with the glare of the sun. Maybe I could use it to hide my eyes.”

  Taryn snorted. “You could try but short of keeping your eyes closed, those blues are still easy to spot.”

  Atreyis looked sideways at her. A large decorative shield hung on the wall. She used its reflective surface to black out her eyes. Satisfied with her work she turned and growled at Taryn.

  The girl feigned terror. “So scary.”

  Atreyis shoved her playfully.

  Taryn laughed. “I’m kidding. You do look pretty intense.”

  The princess smiled. “Good, that’s what I was going for.”

  The raven-haired girl snatched the tin and applied her own paint. She snarled at the princess.

  “Wow.” Said Atreyis. “That looks amazing.”

  Taryn grinned smugly. The princess actually felt calm with Taryn by her side. She put on her helmet and checked her reflection. A chill ran down her spine. What looked back at her was almost unrecognizable. The blacked out eyes. The way the helmet wrapped around her face and following along her jaw line and cheek bones and a thin plate covering her nose only left her eyes and mouth visible.