The Bound - Novella: Hers To Save Part One

by Michelle Connor

  She still loved him and would miss him greatly.

  Though a sliver of moonlight pierced the blanket of darkness created by the dense forest, Aveline still had to be careful where she was walking. She thought she knew the forest surrounding her village well, but it had a different feeling about it at night. Even the sounds were not the same—gone were the sounds of the birds and other creatures she usually heard. The trees swayed and creaked, owls hooted, and bats flew about, the sound of them flapping their wings as they swooped marking their passage.

  She was even spooked by the sounds of snapping twigs she created herself, so she picked up her pace. Suddenly the noises around her seemed to fade away until it was almost as if the whole forest was holding its breath. She stepped around a tree, whose dark branches seemed to be reaching out for her, and stumbled into something solid. She fell backwards, banging her head with a thud on the ground. Aveline felt slightly sick and dizzy. Sitting up slowly, she reached behind her head and felt a painful lump.

  A fine start to my escape.

  She glanced up and saw the moonlight reflecting off something large and silver. Getting slowly to her feet, she took an unsteady step forward for a better look. Aveline blinked her eyes, and when that didn’t work she closed them for a second. Nope, it is still there, but she could not believe what she was seeing standing in front of her. Twice her height, covered in silver scales, stood a dragon. She took a huge gulp of air as she looked down at the large claws that were digging into the soft forest floor. They looked like they could easily tear the flesh from her bones.

  She must have banged her head extremely hard, or had her mind conjured up something to help her cope with the terror? Not a single dragon had been seen in fifty years, and all were believed to have died. Sometimes she believed that they were just a myth that the people around her village had made up. But she remembered seeing drawings of them in the books her mother would read to her. Aveline stepped back slowly, trying to create more space between her and the fierce creature in front of her.

  The panic evaporated as she heard a deep-toned voice in her mind, “Do not be scared, I will not hurt you.”

  She looked up into a pair of deep green and gold eyes, and an overwhelming sense of calm and safety came over her. She had not felt this way since her mother had last held her in her arms and she had known that nothing could hurt her. It was a strange feeling, almost like a forgotten dream.

  Am I so scared of escaping my father that I need protection from childhood fairytales? She did not know why her mind had conjured up a dragon of all things—whether it was from the bang to her head or just her own mind trying to make her feel safe as she fled the only home she had ever known. But she would embrace the feeling of safety while she could. “If my brain is going to conjure up a big scary dragon to keep me safe, you might as well come with me.”

  #

  It was just after daybreak when the trees started to thin out and they made it to the edge of the forest. Aveline paused, taking in the fields of grass in all directions in front of her.

  “Do you have a name? I cannot keep calling you the dragon,” she asked as her jaw opened wide with a yawn.

  “Aeolius is what my mother named me before she vanished."

  A lone tear trailed down Aveline’s cheek. "So, like me, you’re motherless. What happened to yours?”

  “I do not know. She used to talk to me softly while I was cocooned in my egg. I remember her telling me not to be afraid, and then she was just gone.”

  What a sad story my mind has conjured up. “We have each other now, Aeolius.” Aveline leaned against Aeolius side with the words reverberating in her mind. We have each other.

  CHAPTER 4

  Aveline's feet were hurting more than she thought possible, with each step more difficult than the last.

  She had never felt so hungry before and the only sounds she had heard for a while now were the constant loud rumbles from her empty stomach. She had lost count of the days they had been walking. Aveline was so bone-tired she could almost forget about the cold winds battering against her. Her tired eyes stung and tears tracked down her cold, numbed face. Her village was surrounded by trees and here they were out in the open, with no obstacles in sight to block the cruel wind in its path.

  She had nearly passed out several times in the last few hours. Aeolius had offered to hunt some food for her more than once. She was so hungry that she almost said yes to her imaginary dragon. She stumbled again and then spotted a scattering of wooden buildings. She kept walking until she saw a vast stone wall beyond. She had heard in passing of its grandeur and impressive size from the merchants from her village. They travelled there regularly to sell their wares and bring items back. They all shared stories of their adventures.

  I might be able to find food there.

  The thought gave Aveline the extra energy she needed to keep moving forward. It took her a while, but she finally got to the outskirts of the walled city. The rough, grey stone wall seemed to surround the entire place, pierced only by an arch, where a huge iron gate stood open.

  I have never seen anything like it in my life.

  The city was so much bigger than anything she had ever seen before. The new smells that surrounded her quickly became overbearing. The terrible stink seems to be a combination of rotten food and human sewage.

  Maybe it is better I have not eaten for a while, else I might not be able to keep the food down.

  Aveline did not know where to look first. The houses were close together and waste littered the cobbled streets she was walking down. She turned around another corner and a large brown pig ran past, nearly trampling over her. As she steadied herself, she looked up and saw a huge stone castle. It was set on a large hill, rising above the rest of the city. Aveline thought it looked even taller than the tall silver birch trees that grew in the forest which surrounded her old home. The castle looked ancient, menacing the city. An ever-present reminder of the king.

  She kept walking whilst taking in the sheer number of buildings and all the different merchants she spotted. There was a cloth merchant that had material in such vivid colors, such as crocus and sanguine blood, she had only seen in nature before.

  Why would anyone wear clothes made from such colors that would show the slightest dirt mark?

  The bright red and orange embers of the blacksmith's forge caught her attention. He was loudly hammering a piece of metal into what appeared to be a huge sword. Just as she was about to start walking on, she caught the aroma of something among the acrid smells. Her stomach let out a loud rumble.

  Warm, fresh bread. There must be a bakery close by.

  Aveline looked around, searching for the source of the wonderful smell, and noticed that the people around her were all looking in her direction. Pointing at her and whispering. She did not understand. Was she so different from these city folk that they would find her an oddity to point at? Then she heard what some of them were saying. “Dragon, there is a dragon.”

  She turned to look at Aeolius, eyes widening. Spots danced in front of her eyes, swaying, she reached out, finding emptiness. Everything felt confusing, followed by a feeling of falling as she tumbled into darkness.

  #

  Cramping hunger pains awoke Aveline. She was in complete darkness and lying on a very cold, hard surface. The chill seemed to have seeped deep into her bones. The echoing plip plop of water dripping nearby broke up the utter silence surrounding her.

  My limbs are numb; I must have been here awhile.

  Her breathing became labored and she was finding it difficult to swallow. She remembered Aeolius, the dragon who had made her feel safe. She admonished herself for wondering if he was real. Of course, he was. How could she have been so stupid as to think otherwise about something so alive and vibrant?

  Where am I?

  Aveline's first thought was that her father must have found her. Then she realized where she had been before she woke up here. There was no way her father could have fou
nd her so fast. But she had no idea of what could have happened. With stiff movements, she rose to her feet and felt her way around the place she was in. She discovered she was in a minuscule amount of space. Metal bars blocked what felt like the only way out. All she could smell was dampness and the scent of something rotten. Her limbs began to tremble as the reality that she was truly trapped in a dungeon dawned on her.

  CHAPTER 5

  Aveline closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she pictured her mother's blue eyes filled with love. The wave of rising terror calmed, feeling now more like a gentle stream. The darkness of the dungeon walls no longer felt like it was closing in on her.

  “Hello, you in there, can you hear me?” A masculine voice came from nearby.

  She froze and held her breath.

  “I know you can hear me, I heard you move. Is it true what the guards are saying? You came into the city with a dragon?”

  She didn't reply, instead reaching into her pocket and pulling out the little wooden rabbit, but the voice carried on regardless.

  “I heard the guards say the king has the dragon chained. The first dragon this kingdom has seen in fifty years should not be shackled.”

  To that, I agree.

  The din of scraping metal came out of the darkness. She could make out muffled voices. A shadow appeared and the lock released with a clink. She stepped back and huddled against the far wall.

  “If you wanna get out of here, stay close and don't make a sound. I don't want us to get caught because of you,” whispered another much harsher voice.

  “Ignore him, he speaks to everyone like that. We're your best bet if you want to escape,” coaxed the first man.

  What other choice do I have, stay here?

  The sound of shuffling feet grew quieter. Her breathing became erratic and her heart beat

  rapidly. Not wanting to be left there alone, she rushed to catch up. They crept up a set of narrow steps that lead to a dimly lit hallway. Aveline just managed to avoid falling over a slumped body. “Is he dead?”

  “No, he’s just unconscious. Now can you be quiet while we try to get out of here without dying ourselves?”

  Good point, but I’m really starting to not like you.

  Light cut through vertical slits in the wall and lit patches on the stone floor. They were turning into another hallway when an arm halted her.

  “Wait,” she heard whispered into the dark. The arm dropped, but he remained close.

  She heard footsteps. Frozen, she strained her ears as they approached. Her palms were sweating and her heart thumped so hard she was worried the noise would give them away. The footsteps faded. She took a relieved breath and wiped her palms on her tunic.

  “The changing of the guards, it should be clear now.”

  After a dozen paces one of them halted her again. He then stepped forward and looked around the corner. “They are definitely keeping the dragon in the throne room. Wait here.”

  At least I wasn't left with the surly one.

  She might not be able to see either clearly, but their voices were distinctly different. Their attitudes also made them stand very much apart. She heard muffled noises and grunts, then only the gentle inhalations of their breaths could be heard.

  A shadowy figure stepped around the corner, she backed up.

  “Come on, the coast is clear,” the harsh-voiced rescuer commanded.

  She followed them both around the corner, where several torches were mounted on the wall. The flickering flames cast light on her companions, giving Aveline her first real view of them. Both appeared to only be a couple more summers older than her. The boy closest to her had light brown hair.

  The polite one I think.

  The other had black hair, and before she could take in anything else he turned to face them. “I couldn’t find any keys on the guards, but it won't take me long to pick the locks.”

  With that, she looked around, spotting two armored men sprawled on each side of a huge set of wooden doors. Aveline felt the bile rise in her throat.

  Not passed out this time.

  Shuddering, she lost herself in the sight of the crimson blood slowly seeping across the concrete floor until the light-haired boy spoke, making her jump. “I have every faith in your lock-picking skills Herveus.”

  Herveus turned to give her an annoyed look before pushing open the wooden doors. Following them into a spacious room, she stopped and turned in a circle, her mouth wide open, taking in the vivid murals. Battle scene after battle scene, with dragons of all colors flying among the brightly painted blue skies. At the far end, she spotted Aeolius, surrounded by silver chains, lying next to an overstated gold and red throne. He turned his head in their direction and she ran to him. She put as much of her arms around the dragon as she could.

  I might not have believed Aeolius was real, but he helped me stay sane as I escaped my father's plans.

  “My Aveline, have you come to save me?” she heard in her mind and smiled. “I tried to protect you, but there were too many of them. If I had my fire, they wouldn't have stood a chance.” A small puff of smoke came out of Aeolius’s wide nostrils.

  “It’s not your fault,” replied Aveline as she squeezed him harder.

  A click, the lock flipped open. Herveus dropped the heavy chains to the floor. “Come on, let's go, we have been lucky so far. I want to keep it that way.”

  The castle grounds were deserted except for two guards standing watch at the looming gates, facing away from the castle.

  “Stay here, both of you.” On swift feet, Herveus advanced forward, the indistinct shadow of the guard on the right moved, she heard a thud. Aveline was familiar with the sound, as flesh met flesh before the guard slumped to the ground.

  She felt her guts twist as the second guard advanced. She heard the chiming of metal hitting metal as the dark figures moved so fast; she had no idea what was happening.

  Aeolius moved his hulking form in front of Aveline, blocking her view, but not being able to see only fueled her imagination. Even the swishing of their clothes seemed to bounce off the walls in the courtyard, and she wondered how the whole castle was not awake and descending on them. Aveline stood motionless until the warmth of a hand touching her shoulder brought her body back to life.

  “We have to go now,” cajoled the polite one.

  Turning her pale face, she nodded her head slowly. Sneaking down a labyrinth of dark alleyways, they reached the edge of the city. A loud bell rang out. Turning around, Aveline looked towards the castle.

  “Prince Dayton, we must hurry.” Hands clenched at his side, Herveus started walking faster.

  'Prince', the boy from the dungeon was the prince?

  “Prince?” she asked.

  He turned to stare at Aveline. “Yes, will you and your dragon join us? You'll not be safe from my father if you do not, and we will help protect you.” Twisting around, he looked back at the city with sad eyes before speaking again. “He's been going insane. I was put in the dungeon because he thought I was going to take his crown. In order to protect my people, I will have to make it a reality now.”

  If anyone understood confusing feelings towards their father, it was I. And where else could I go?

  “Okay, we will come with you. Where are we going?”

  Prince Dayton looked at her as if in deep thought before replying, “We're heading to the mountains to the north. I have people loyal to me there.”

  “The mountains?” Aveline's eyes opened wide.

  CHAPTER 6

  Aveline didn't know how much longer she could keep walking without taking a break; she could feel new blisters taking up residence on her feet. The pace the prince and his friend kept was grueling. But whenever she lagged too far behind, Aeolius stayed by her side unless he was hunting. She did not know what he ate when he was gone, but he grew rapidly.

  She could hear his thoughts more clearly and with greater strength in her mind. Prince Dayton and his friend seemed unaware that Aeolius could talk with
her. She did not want to share the information, as she was not sure if she trusted them. But for now, they were their safest option.

  A village appeared ahead. “Are we going to go around so we can slip by unseen?” she asked her companions.

  Prince Dayton shook his head. “I need to go to the village, I have spies there.”

  Aveline's mouth became dry and her hands began to tremble. Balling them into fists, she looked around to check if anyone noticed. The sky darkened as dusk approached, and a dark feeling seemed to lie over the entire village. She could almost feel the oppressiveness radiating from the few people lurking in the shadows. Other than barking from several stray dogs, the place was too quiet. Several damaged doors dangled on hinges torn from the frames. Others appeared poorly repaired. She shuddered, the place didn't feel right. Aveline reached out a hand to touch Aeolius before she even realized what she was doing.

  Prince Dayton turned to look at them both. “Herveus, take care of Aveline and get something to eat, I won't be long.”

  Herveus protested, “But—”

  “No buts. It's less suspicious if I go alone rather than us both leaving Aveline. Besides, you know I'm not completely defenseless.” He turned around and walked away.

  Watching Prince Dayton walk away, she saw him nod at a pair of scruffy looking boys—they couldn’t have been more than ten summers old and both wearing dark colored leggings, barely held together—before he walked down an alleyway out of sight.

  #

  Dayton's life often depended on information, and it was worth more than gold at court, but information doesn’t always come from where people would think. He walked down a deserted alleyway as two young beggars followed him.

  The perfect spies.

  No one really noticed them loitering while gathering information for him. People often choose to ignore the poverty and suffering around them. He had met Tim and Sam the prior summer and discovered what lousy thieves they were. Failing to steal his purse, instead of punishment he sent the brothers a heavy task. Becoming spies for a prince. Bearing fruit several times before, they had provided information that had proved both reliable and accurate.