Isabella watched her friend fly off before digging into her pack for a snack. She pulled a green apple from the bag and bit off a large chunk. The day was hot so she walked down the beach, letting the ocean breeze cool her. When she finished the apple, she threw the core up in the air and blasted it with a fireball.
For the next hour, she ran up and down the loose sand beach, picking off various small targets with well-placed blasts. When her legs began to burn from the exercise she pushed even more. Kai had told her that running in the sand would increase her leg strength more than running on hard ground. Finally, she had enough and collapsed on the beach, exhausted.
After a short rest, Isabella forced herself to get up. She went back to where she had left her pack and retrieved a canteen, from which she drank deeply of the cool water inside.
She stripped off her clothes and ran down to the ocean for a swim, stroking her way up and down the shore until she could feel her arms and shoulders burning with the same kind of intensity that her legs had felt earlier.
Satisfied that she had worked her muscles enough for one day Isabella went back to her make-shift camp and put down a large blanket. She lay down for a rest, letting the sun dry her skin. She closed her eyes for just a few moments before she heard the familiar sound of a large beast landing down the beach from her.
“Took you long enough. Are there no sharks close by here?” She called out without opening her eyes.
There was no reply.
She opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the sound. On the beach stood a huge beast, like none that she had ever seen before. It had the body of a great feline but instead of front paws, it had vicious claws that matched its wings, and head of a great eagle. She had never seen one but as a child, she had heard many stories of men fighting the mighty beasts known as griffins.
Isabella jumped up and lunged for her clothes. The beast saw her move and let out an ear-piercing screech. It launched itself towards her. Isabella forgot about her clothes and started running.
Where was Sisera?
Isabella screamed in her mind just as loud as she was screaming from her mouth.
The griffin would take a step, then glide through the air because of the difficulty in running through sand. It was a huge advantage over Isabella who stumbled as her bare feet sank into the sand.
Isabella looked over her shoulder just in time to see the griffin reach out its great claws toward her. She threw herself to one side, narrowly avoiding its razor-sharp talons. The beast flew right by her but quickly banked and turned around to face her.
“Sisera!” she screamed in her mind but there was no response.
The griffin hovered for a moment then threw its head back and screeched. The beast’s massive wings flapped a few times and it began to fly toward Isabella.
She knew she had to fight or she would die naked and alone on this strange beach.
When the griffin was upon her again, Isabella threw up her hands and launched a barrage of fireballs toward it. The first two fireballs connected, hitting the beast in the chest and head. The magical attack took the beast by surprise. It screeched in pain and changed its direction, flying away from Isabella. She watched as it flew up high to regain its attack advantage.
“C’mon, big boy,” Isabella said as she dug her feet into the sand, preparing to run should the need arise. As a force of habit, her hands raised into the offensive position she had spent the last two years training them to take.
The griffin flew at her, hoping to use speed to its advantage, but with her increased agility, thanks to Sisera, she was just as fast, if not faster. She pushed off into a full run and leaped into the air, throwing another great barrage of fireballs toward the beast. This time she hit her mark with all eight of the fireballs that she threw. She landed in a roll, turning just in time to watch the griffin hit the beach with a great thud. It also rolled but when it stopped it did not move again.
Isabella stood for a long while watching for any movement, her hands at the ready to produce powerful blasts of fire. The beast did not move. After some time, she let her guard down and walked over to investigate. She approached warily, watching closely for any signs of movement.
“I killed it,” Isabella said aloud to reassure herself that the danger had passed.
As she retrieved her clothing, her mind raced as she envisioned all the horrible things that could have happened to her if she had not defeated the beast.
“Where are you, Sisera?” she said, trying to use the telepathy the bonded shared.
Still, there was no reply.
Isabella began to think perhaps, she had bigger problems than an angry beast.
What happened to Sisera? She never usually disappeared for so long. What was she going to do?
She checked on the body of the griffin, which was assuredly dead as it had not moved at all, then went to sit on her blanket to contemplate her next step.
A short while later she saw a dark spot on the horizon. She watched it for a while as it grew larger and closer to her. She stood up and prepared to fight again. As the spot grew closer still, she let her guard down once she could make out the familiar form of her bonded dragon.
“Where were you?” she screamed at the dragon, using their telepathic connection.
“Do I ever have a story for you,” Sisera said.
“I bet I have a better one,” Isabella said with venom in her words.
“It seems that you do,” Sisera said as she flew close enough to see the body of the dead griffin. “Are you hurt?”
“No. But, that is no thanks to you.” Isabella had a hard time holding back the anger she felt toward Sisera for not being there for her.
“I’m sorry,” Sisera said as she landed on the beach near where Isabella was standing.
Isabella could feel the dragon’s sincerity.
“What happened?” asked Sisera.
Isabella recounted the tale of her battle with the griffin. Sisera sat and listened, engrossed, to the story.
“Where did it come from?” Isabella asked. “Have you ever seen one before?”
“Oh yes,” said Sisera. “There are many of them on the Isle and surrounding lands. They are very intelligent, usually excellent conversationalists, if you don’t mind the occasional screeching.
“I don’t know where it came from. I have not seen any since we returned to the world but I never thought to look for any. Perhaps, it lives on these islands. With all this jungle, it is hard for me to discern what is living in there.”
“And, you just left me alone here for so long?” asked Isabella, who was offended her friend would leave her in danger.
“There was nothing on this island,” said Sisera defensively. “I figured you would be alright. You always have been before. Besides, you handled yourself very well. Killing a griffin is no easy task. It seems your magic is getting much stronger. And I didn’t mean to take so long. I got waylaid on my hunt. I will tell you about it if you are done being angry at me.”
Isabella could sense that the dragon was only being half serious. She could feel that Sisera would never do anything to purposely put Isabella in danger. She knew the dragon would gladly give her own life for Isabella if the situation should ever arise.
“I’m sorry, Sisera,” Isabella said. “I was just scared and upset. Please tell me your story.”
“I found another dragon.”
Isabella felt as if she was riding a rolling wave of emotion today. One moment she was angry and the next she was unbelievably excited and happy.
“What? Where?” She hopped from foot to foot in excitement.
“While I was fishing. He is an older dragon. I had seen him a few times on the Isle but I had never talked to him before. He knew my mother well, though. He was one of the first to leave the Isle. He was assigned a place at the north-east tip of Seron but he said the fishing is terrible there so he comes out this far to catch bull tuna.”
“You had no idea that he was sent to the
same island as you were?” asked Isabella.
“No. Apophis never told us. She said to stay close to our assigned areas until we got the word that it was okay to do otherwise. I’m breaking her rules just by living in the Tower with you. I figure it is all right though because she never prepared us for the possibility of bonding with a dragonblood.”
“You’ve told me about Apophis before, I think.”
“She is magnificent. She is the alpha. No dragon would dare to oppose her unless they have the strength to defeat her. None has ever tried.”
“Do you trust this other dragon?”
“Tyrath. His name is Tyrath,” Sisera said. “I believe we can. He is very nice. He tries to be funny but his jokes are terrible.”
“What did he tell you?”
“Not too much. He was more interested in me, bonding with a human and what not. It was just nice to talk to another dragon, even if it was only for a little while. I have you and the others at the Tower but it just isn’t the same.”
“I understand. I always feel like an outcast too.”
“Because of the bonding?”
“Yeah. There are not too many people around who have purple and gold dragon scales,” Isabella said with a slight chuckle. “And I don’t have anyone my own age to talk to.”
“We are bonded in more ways than one, I guess,” said Sisera, letting out a sigh.
Isabella walked over to Sisera and put her hand on the nape of the dragon’s neck. Sisera lay down and Isabella sat with her back leaning against her bonded life mate.
“I just wish sometimes that I could be a kid again. I understand that I have these great responsibilities because I am special but sometimes I wish that my life could be just that. Mine.
“I watch the village kids from up on my balcony, dreaming that I was down with them, playing in the muck. They are always laughing and chasing each other. Doing the things that kids do.
“I always knew, when we lived in Prozia, that I would be different because I was a noble but there were always the children of other nobles to play with. I never cared about anything like that either. I was always playing with the kids of the serving staff.
“You and I have a lot of fun together and I wouldn’t change what we have for anything. It is different, though. Things are changing with me that my mother says are completely normal. She says there are a lot of things that will change with my body and mind. Some changes will be scary but it will all be for the best as it is a sign that I am becoming an adult.”
Isabella felt a wave rush over when she realized that she was finally getting to release all the emotion that she had been pushing down and ignoring.
Sisera seemed content to listen, occasionally turning her head to check on the body of the dead griffin.
“I find it difficult to remain composed in the way my mother would have me act all the time.” Isabella continued. “Sometimes I find it very difficult to control my emotions. Raven says that is a big reason why I do some of the things that I do. She says I am ‘acting out.’ I don’t know. She may be right. She is right. I just want someone to talk to. Someone my age. Someone who doesn’t care about the color of my skin or that I can run up the side of a mountain.”
“Or that you slaughtered hundreds of people with your dragon magic,” Sisera added, no hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Thank you. That is very helpful.” Isabella spat out the words. She knew her friend was not trying to be hurtful. It was just the way she was.
“So, what are you going to do?” asked Sisera.
“Just keep doing what I am doing, I guess. Not much else can be done.”
“We could just leave.”
“I have thought about that,” Isabella said grimly.
“I know.”
“That is not an option. There are too many people who rely on me. There is a whole village of people who left where they are from to come and help us. It would be terrible for me to do such a thing.”
“Who cares?”
“I do. I think I do, anyway. I’m just so confused. Do you want to leave?”
“No. But, I am bound to you. I want to be wherever you are. I just want you to be happy.”
Isabella sat quietly for a moment. Sisera checked on the griffin.
“We should keep what happened today a secret. I don’t want them to lock me in the tower ‘for my own safety.’ ”
“Agreed.”
“We should get back,” Isabella said, pushing herself off Sisera into a standing position. “I know you want to eat it. Just do it and let’s go.”
Sisera smiled and leaped into the air. The gold-purple dragon landed on the corpse of the griffin, her razor-sharp teeth tearing into its flesh.
8
“I am much too young to be wandering through a garden,” said Oshri Chen as he grabbed at a twig from a stack of branches piled by the side of the path he, Jaime, and Amelia were walking down. The old wizard missed the stick and nearly fell over the shirts of his robe as he twisted his body around trying to grasp it.
“Much too young?” Jaime laughed as he successfully performed the same trick Oshri was trying to. “I imagine you were already old when my father was old.”
Jaime grasped the two-foot long switch as if it were a sword and swung it around. He enjoyed teasing the old wizard. They had all lived together in the Tower for two years and Oshri would still surprise him from time to time. The mage was always coming up with new and different ideas for improvements to the Tower and the village that was sprouting from amongst the ruins of Mara. Jaime thought many of them were odd but some were just plain brilliant. It was Oshri’s idea to construct a building in which they could cultivate exotic plants not readily available on Seron. This was where the group was heading.
“I should turn you into a toad.” Oshri scowled.
“If you had the power to do that, I’m sure you would have done it already.”
“Don’t test me, boy. You do not understand what I can and cannot do.”
“I know you can’t do this,” Jaime said as he took off running straight toward the tower. He ran a few steps up the wall and kicked himself off, performing a side flip. He landed in a crouched position with a huge grin on his face.
Oshri’s face turned sour. “Well, I bet you can’t do this.” Just as he was about to pull something from under his cloak Sir Hamza entered the garden from a side door.
Sir Hamza was Amelia’s most trusted advisor and the leader of her knights. He was a big man with a strong jaw. Since coming to the Tower he had grown a thick dark beard which Jaime thought suited him well. He was a humorless man who was focused on his work. He commanded the twenty knights that came with Amelia from Prozia. The group of twenty loyal soldiers dedicated themselves to the protection of Amelia and Isabella. They began training with the Daxrah and both groups learned many skills from each other. Jaime had proposed once that the men join the Daxrah ranks but Sir Hamza set himself against it.
“We are a proud order of Knights who have been cast out of our home, albeit for good reason. We will remain an independent force dedicated to Lady Amelia and her daughter,” Hamza said. “We will be known as the Knights of the Tower and we will serve as its guard.”
Isabella agreed to this proposal but Jaime was not so sure that having two separate factions under one roof was a good idea. He did not have any say in the matter so he dropped the subject. From that day forward he and Hamza never got along. Hamza was asked to join the council as commander of the Tower guard. He and Jaime butted heads on many occasions. At times Jaime felt like Hamza was opposing him out of spite.
Sir Hamza approached and as he walked past Jaime’s crouching form he kicked out a foot and knocked Jaime into the dirt. Jaime stared up at the big man in disbelief but Hamza kept a straight face. He continued toward Amelia and Oshri, removing his helmet and dropping to one knee in front of his lady. Oshri began to howl with laughter.
“General.” Amelia greeted him with a stifled grin. “How are you
today?”
“Very well, my Queen.” He was the commander of the Prozian armies before Amelia was dethroned. Though they no longer held the titles they still used them with each other for nostalgia’s sake. “I’m here to deliver the morning report.”
“And avenge my honor!” Oshri piped in. He was hopping around in a circle behind Amelia, laughing and pointing at Jaime.
Jaime pulled himself up out of the dirt and brushed himself off. He kept his composure and walked over to the group with his head held high.
“Good morning to you too, General.” Jaime tried to keep the venom from his tone but to no avail. He kept his eyes locked on Hamza’s as the General rose to his feet to tower over him. Jaime had fought much bigger men than Hamza so he did not succumb to the big man’s attempted intimidation.
Hamza’s eyes narrowed then he dropped his stare down and turned back to Lady Amelia.
“The guard has completed the improvements to the Tower’s entrance. Once closed and locked it will be completely impenetrable. It will provide an excellent position for a last stand during a siege, once the outer gates fall.” Hamza cast a meaningful glance toward Jaime.
Jaime could feel his face get hot at the slight but he kept a wide friendly grin. The Daxrah oversaw the protection of the outer wall with Jaime as their commander. The wall was thirty feet high made from thick logs from the northern forests. According to Oshri, they were reinforced by the same dragon magic that lit the interior of the keep. Jaime knew that it would be unlikely that the tower would be taken easily by force.
The Tower of Kings was built into the side of a mountain and was surrounded on three sides by steep, smooth rock facings which provided natural protection. The 150-yard outer wall ran across a massive natural alcove. Jaime suspected that the alcove was not natural at all as from a distance the smooth rock facings looked as if they were cut with a knife.
After the battle with the Kosal forces, Kai had asked Jaime to do what he could to ensure the defence of the fortress. In the beginning, he concentrated on the field that stood before the wall. He instructed the Daxrah to dig huge dry moats every five hundred yards to discourage the use of siege engines which was difficult as this is where the ruins of the Mara Castle stood. With the aid of Sisera, this did not take long. The village that grew shortly after aided in the defence as it rose, around and inside of these dry moats, using the remnants of the ruins as foundations for many of the new buildings.
Sisera's Gift 2: Sacred Blood Page 4