Astrid ran over to her and wrapped her arms around Hekla. Hekla embraced her sister—glad to be alive.
“Are you all right?” Astrid asked.
Hekla didn’t respond. All she could do was nod.
“Come on, let’s go. We need to get you some rest,” Astrid said.
At first, Hekla followed her sister, but after several steps, and she took in all the destruction around her, and the bodies littering the streets of the fallen Caelestans, Hekla couldn’t move her legs.
“Hekla?” Astrid asked.
Hekla shook her head. “No. I am fine. It is Caelestis that is not fine. It is the Caelestans who are not fine. They need my help.”
“Sister… you need rest.”
“No,” Hekla said.
She pulled away from her sister and began finding injured Caelestans. Hekla didn’t bother with minor injuries, but she and Astrid began moving rubble to find survivors and sending them to get help. Everyone in Caelestis who was able, helped. Hekla healed those with serious injuries and didn’t stop until everyone had been accounted for.
When she was done, she wandered back to where the fallen dragon was and sat. Astrid soon made her way there as well and sat next to her sister.
“What are we going to do with the body?” Hekla asked.
“I don’t know,” Astrid said.
“It is a lot of meat,” a voice said from behind them.
Hekla turned around to see a short, rotund man who appeared half Caelestan and half Tellurian. He walked up to stand by Astrid’s side as he gazed at the massive dragon.
“Quimby?” Astrid asked.
“With that much meat, we could feed Caelestis for quite some time. Perhaps we could even divide it up and share with the other kingdoms,” Quimby said.
“Eating a dragon?” Hekla said, her face horror-stricken.
“It seems a waste not to,” Quimby said.
“Speltus… what is your opinion,” Hekla asked.
Speltus appeared from her scepter and landed on the ground. Aronus appeared next, his green form landed next to his blue brother.
“Do as you wish,” Speltus said.
“He is no brethren to us,” Aronus said.
“He is a monster,” Speltus said.
“Not a dragon,” Aronus said.
The city trembled.
Hekla’s lips scrunched. “I thought I fixed the kingdom. Duliogial should be imprisoned now to keep Caelestis in the clouds.”
“The weight of Xolderan was not factored into your math. It is too much weight,” Speltus said.
Hekla sucked in a deep breath from her nose as her lips twitched. “Right. So, no matter what, we need to get Xolderan’s body off of Caelestis.”
“What if we drag him down the steps to the trade post where we did all of our trading with Aequorus and Telluris. We can then begin getting the meat separated to send to the various kingdoms and villages—especially after the recent turmoil that has swept across all lands. Hunger is everywhere right now,” Quimby said.
Hekla nodded. “And just how do you propose we move this dragon? He is a tad more than a sack of tuna.”
Quimby chuckled. “Well, we sure aren’t going to do it alone.”
Hekla stood along with Astrid and moved toward the dragon. Quimby began directing the Caelestans to attach ropes to the dragon’s body. He was still too injured to help with the heavy lifting himself, but his leadership was appreciated. Once ropes were attached to the dragon’s remaining wing, legs, tail, and neck. Everyone began to pull.
Hekla walked around the dragon as Astrid showed her the path needed to take the dragon down the mountainside. Once the path was clear, Hekla used her scepter to create ice on the ground in a path from the dragon all the way to edge of Caelestis and the path off the kingdom.
Together, everyone pulled and pushed the dragon. It was slow at first, but once Hekla added her magic, using air to push the dragon, they were able to move the dragon out of the center of the city and off of the floating sky kingdom.
Once the dragon had been placed off Caelestis, Quimby set butchers to begin separating the meat. Hekla didn’t want to be a part of that process, and neither did Astrid. Instead, the two of them meandered back to the center of the city.
“We did it,” Astrid whispered.
“We did. But—”
“You must leave?” Astrid asked.
Hekla nodded. “Caelestis is safe now. But Aequorus is not. As long as the king is alive… Aequorus is not safe. And—I need to check with our sister, and see if she needs any aid defeating the undead army—though I hope with us removing the dragon from the picture—”
Astrid nodded. “I have many things here I must attend.”
Hekla smiled as she embraced her sister in a hug.
They held onto each other for a long moment before parting and nodding at each other.
“Until next time, sister,” Hekla said.
Hekla swished her scepter, using the words to levitate, and flew across the horizon, disappearing into the sunset. One way or another, it would all be over soon. Hekla would make sure of it.
53
Astrid
It is in the aftermath of battle, when the dead have been counted, and the lost have been grieved, that we find our true strength. It is in the moments where we have faced death and survived that we realize the things we once hoped for, the things we dreamed of, may not be what is best for us. Time tells us to take our truths and live with them, and not to live someone else’s truth. In that, I beg you go forth and find your meaning and pursue it. Do not wait for battle to learn your truths.
Pavrusion, The Infamous, The Eighth Dragon Elder, Ninth Age of Verdil
As Astrid watched Hekla depart, the tiniest urging of guilt crept in. They had come so close to hurting the battling Aequorans, Caelestans, and Tellurians that were on the ground. Astrid was thankful that Hekla had acted quickly and had been able to steer them away, even if dealing with the oversized body of the dragon had been exhausting.
At least, Astrid thought, their biggest worry had been dealt with. Now, I’ll visit Duliogial and then I will tend to Svana to see that all is well. Or at least she hoped that time would be on her side, and she would be able to help her fiery-haired sister.
Each trek to the caves below the surface of Caelestis had gotten easier. The darkness not so unknown as she walked with certainty toward him. Just a short time ago, the inky black of the caves, and the damp smells of the Earth had frightened her with the unknown. Only now, confidence spurred her on. Confidence that her youngest sister’s magic had far surpassed anything of her imagination. Confidence that the new dragon, both young and strong, was strongly secured, and would never again hurt her people, or any of the people of the kingdoms of Verdil. Confidence that their one true enemy had been used to bring hope back to the people. They were fed, secure, and looking for new guidance. Guidance that Astrid hoped she and her sisters would be able to provide.
As she approached his prison, the sound of his nostrils flaring angrily and the padding of his great clawed feet against the dirt, pacing back and forth could be heard echoing through the archway of the cave she walked through.
“Go away, human!” he grumbled angrily, causing her lips to upturn slightly.
“Not a chance,” she answered, entering his lair, still smiling.
“You laugh at my imprisonment?” he queried, eyes flashing.
“Not at all,” she answered.
“Why are you here?” the sudden strong clanking of chains echoed around them, as he jerked at his bindings.
“I’ve come to discuss Caelestis,” she answered, clearing away rocks with her foot, as she sat on the floor and crossed her legs.
“You think that I care to discuss such things with you?”
“It doesn’t rightly matter, does it?” she answered. “Unfortunately for you, because of the crimes you have committed, you will be here until the end of time. Even the Unseen Ones will not let you escape. The
Dragon Council, they will see to it you stay bound for all of eternity, even if you were able to break free from the magic and the chains that imprison you.”
He roared in response, jerking again at his shackles. Duliogial looked from her to the chains, and back to her again, before he sighed heavily.
“I supposed there is no escaping my fate,” he responded, defeated. Resigned to his sentence he stopped his pacing, and laid down on the ground, great head on his paws, eyes watching her with disinterest.
Astrid nodded, “I’m afraid not, Duliogial. You have sealed your own fate with the darkness that you created in those Aequoran corpses. The horrendous acts you have done will go into history books, and Aequorans, Tellurians, and Caelestans alike will speak of such horrors for centuries to come. You will never be forgotten, and because of that, no one will ever be naïve enough to let you free. Even so, as I’ve mentioned before, the Unseen Ones and the Dragon Council will make sure to step in before such a thing happens.”
“And Xolderan? What became of him?”
Astrid went silent, not sure how to break the news to the beast. Were they friends? Xolderan and Duliogial? Probably not, but she did understand that there was a general camaraderie between dragons. Or rather, a general connection between them all that connected them to the universe. She didn’t entirely understand it, but she saw the same thing between her dragon guide and her sisters.
“You’ve killed him?” he said with a heavy voice.
“Yes, my sister and I did what was necessary to ensure that he could never harm another human. His body went to bring nutrients to our people, who have gone too long without meat and perish for lack of food. They will suffer no more, and if killing that evil beast was the beginning of it, then so be it.” Astrid watched his face for a reaction, but he didn’t move.
“So, what do you want from me? I’m already your prisoner.”
“We want answers,” Astrid said, repositioning herself on the dirt. In the next instant, Aronus had materialized by her, and took his place on the ground.
Duliogial, obviously miffed by the presence of the little creature, snorted abruptly and backed away as much as he could.
“Yes, the dragon council wants to know why you chose to exact an unknown revenge on innocent lives,” Aronus shoved his nose in the air and straightened his back, pulling himself to his full height. Astrid had to stifle back a laugh, as she imagined that him doing so was to show that he was not afraid of the massive creature that lay before them.
“Hmph,” Duliogial snorted. “As if I owe you an answer.”
“It’s true, you don’t, but considering how much time you have here? Being that your contained with the most powerful and pure magic in all the kingdom, and the fact that your youth will keep you here and alive for eternity, we figured that you may want to kill some time. Maybe in exchange for answers and truth, a plea can be made on your behalf to the Dragon Council,” Astrid coaxed.
“As if they would do anything for me, as if they have ever done anything for me,” he replied back. Then going silent, he shifted his entire body, turning his head away from them. As if he couldn’t bear to look at them. “Fine,” he replied.
“Long ago, the Dragon Council was great. Ruled with stern judgement and wise leaders. Leaders who agreed that the separation of dragon and human was for the best of both of our races. As they died off, there were a few of us who longed to see our power restored. We did not appreciate the new dragon leaders desire to merge both worlds. It had led to death for many of us. I did not see it as a wise decision. I wanted order, stern judgement, and mostly, for the worlds to remain separated.
There were few that agreed with me, and we tried to restore that order. We separated the humans and humanoid creatures from our kind. Taking their gold and riches. Riches they had acquired because of us. We ransacked their homes, letting them know that we were in charge once more. They would respect us, and fear us, even if it meant a few casualties along the way. It had to be done.
For a while, balance seemed to be restored, but then, as if none of the good I had done meant anything, the council rose against me and those who were on my side. The council demanded that I change, that I stop, but I couldn’t. So, they threatened death on me and those who sided with me. Then, like the cowards they are, those who had agreed with my actions disappeared. I would not back down, I could not back down. A bounty was placed on my head, and so I ran. I buried myself in the deepest darkest caverns of the sea until I could rule once more.
For a while, Xolderan aided me, even came to me from time to time to update me on what was occurring on land. Eventually, he stopped coming and I assumed that he had joined them once more, or that he had died. Either way, it didn’t matter to me. I no longer had to worry about the human affections that had infected the Dragon Realm like the plague. I bid my time, waiting for the elders to die off. Waiting for the hunt for me to cease.
Time is nothing to a dragon, centuries are nothing. Eventually, no one came looking in the seas and my affections for humans shifted when the king of Aequoris stumbled on me one day. At first, I thought about eating him. It had been so long since I’d had humanoid flesh, and the various sorts of sea life barely satisfied me anymore. It was his crown that saved him that day. When I learned that he was the king, I decided that I was bored and that having a little fun with a fickle Aequoran would be the perfect thing to provide some entertainment. I even went so far as to give him some of my powers.
In return, he brought me riches. Gold, jewels, precious items, it didn’t matter. I wanted it all, and the more I had, the more it wasn’t enough. I no longer desired to eat him, but I was hungry. He fulfilled the greed of both. My greed for wealth, not that I needed it. My greed for meat. His guards soon started bringing me prisoners from time to time, prisoners who could not be left to rot in the cells of the kingdom as it was a drain on the resources of Aequoris. So, I gave him more power.
When there was nothing left in Aequoris, but I still demanded more, he used my power, my magic influence to demand more from the surface kingdoms. He told me of his actions, and the death of those who dared to cross him. He told me of the fighting that had begun between all the kingdoms, and as I listened, and demanded more, he gave it to me.
It’s not a bad life to be fed and be given wealth, in exchange for a little bit of power. When his mate died, my influence over him overshadowed the rest of his life and became the thing he sought after most. I watched as the kind-hearted man’s soul began to blacken. He gave me anything that I desired. Recently, he stopped visiting so much. When he did, he spoke of the women who challenged him. Women with vibrant hair bright green, blue, and red. Women who demanded justice and unity and that’s when I knew that I had to do something.
I knew that I couldn’t just continue to order him around. Even in his eyes, I could see the doubt of what he had done. Something or someone had gotten to him… I could feel it. When he stopped coming, and my anger and hunger got the best of me. It was my magic that kept me company in the depths. The darkest depths of the water kingdom where no one had dared to come but the king, or his guards, and who suddenly no longer wanted to visit again.
It was up to me to get what I wanted. At first, I used my voice to send dark messages to him. I threatened him, and when that didn’t work, I offered him everything. Each message sparked new actions of fear, but nothing seemed to bring him back. Sick of the Aequoran king, and tired of being in hiding after all this time, I promised him an army that would be undefeatable if he would continue to follow me and do my bidding.
That seemed to work, he eagerly took the opportunity to be undefeated, and I realized that was all he wanted all along. You and your sisters coming along had made him fearful that he would lose. But watch what happens when you offer a fickle man the chance to win a losing battle. He quickly apologized and worked to gain my favor once more. I had control again, and I used it for my benefit. You know how that all played out.
I would have won. I would
have killed all of you. Now I see that the Dragon Council would never let you humans out of their sight, and I assume that the ridiculous little beast sitting next to you has something to do with your unexplained power? As well as the magic that your sister was able to perform?”
Astrid nodded her head. “In that you would be correct, Duliogial. Now I see that your imprisonment is for the best of everyone involved.”
Silence hung in the air. The dragon, tired from regaling her with his quest for wealth and the destruction of humans, closed his eyes. “I’m done talking now. Leave me, before I devour you with a fireball.”
“Wouldn’t do you any good,” Aronus reminded him. “The Dragon Council would punish you for such an action.”
“Yes, well, it sure would be fun to watch you fry,” Duliogial responded.
“Duliogial, I have more power now than you could ever hope to have and if you were to harm my human, I would make sure that your punishment would be so severe, you would long for death for all eternity,” Aronus replied with a little huff, before turning his short scaly back to the creature and waddling out of the cave as if he were human himself. Astrid cast one last look back, before she hurried out after him.
“Do you think he still has magic?” Astrid asked, suddenly worried that his threat of a fireball could potentially happen at some point.
“Not enough to do anything, just enough to keep him alive, even when he'd rather die. I assure you, the Unseen Ones have taken care of that. Duliogial just doesn’t know it yet.”
Astrid nodded, and as they left the caves, Aronus flew to her shoulder, perching on her arm as they made their way back up the stairwell to Caelestis. It was time to let her people know that those who had sought to harm the Caelestans were dead.
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