by Aya Knight
It’s not like them to remain so silent. Kale thought to himself as he plunged his hands into the cool bucket of water.
He scrubbed at his fingers in a poor attempt to remove the filth wedged beneath his nails. Kale’s eyes wandered as he washed. It was his first time viewing his surroundings. The previous hours had been spent lying on an uncomfortable wooden table while having painful ointments smeared across his face and green, bitter-tasting, medicine balls shoved down his throat. All the furniture within the tent appeared to be chopped or carved from wood. Kale could only assume this was a repeated process—a method used at each new camp to lighten the load during travels. A narrow wooden plank held five white books; each with a hand-written spine that identified the contents. The rest of the tent was very basic, set-up to accommodate the wounded or sick.
Kale finished cleaning his fingers to the best of his ability before withdrawing them from the water and smearing both across his pants. “What is going on with you two?” He finally questioned—too uncomfortable by the thick tension in the air.
Neelan quickly stood and peeked cautiously from the tiny slit of their tent. “We know something is wrong with you, Kale.” Her eyes met Illadar, then Kale. “What you did to that man—it was inhuman. No normal nails would cause such flesh wounds.”
“She’s right, kid. What I saw tonight was similar to the first time you touched me with those hands—with your ability.” Illadar placed his palms upon each knee, leaning forward to speak in a hushed tone. “I think that this is something we will need to discuss with Thomas when he wakes tomorrow.”
“Talk with Thomas?” Kale forced a laugh. “Do you not see all that he has gone through? The last thing we need to do is burden him with what has happened here tonight.”
“Enough Kale!” Neelan snapped. “You know I shall stand by your side no matter what odds we face. However, I will not sit back while you foolishly attempt to disregard such an obvious issue.” She pointed to the tip of her left ear. “These are something I must live with. Why? Because I am an elf.” She shot a finger toward Kale, dropping her voice. “And you may appear human on the exterior, but you have inner differences. Why? Because Kale, you are a dragon.”
Kale stared blankly—speechless for words. He knew she spoke the truth, but still could not understand why until now, he had never experienced the sensation. From the very moment he had felt anger, his innate ability to draw heat from within emerged. But this—this was something entirely different. It had felt as though the very flesh of his new body was conforming to fit some animalistic desire to shred the drunkard into tiny pieces of meat.
“I need to sleep now,” was the only response Kale could muster. Even he couldn’t explain what was happening.
He returned to the wooden table, rolling onto his side. He couldn’t face Neelan or Illadar after what just occurred. Though Kale could feel their eyes burning into the back of his skull, he knew there would be no rest while watching their concerned expressions. As he closed his heavy eyes, the last thing he expected was the visit that was soon to come.
Chapter 3: To Seek Your Destiny
The fog was thick, and surrounded Kale’s body in a damp, humid cloud. He could vaguely make out the endless silhouettes of willow trees; their tall trunks overflowing at the top with draping limbs that cascaded down in a rain of lush greenery. His blue eyes panned the surrounding area—searching for a sign to resolve his overwhelming confusion.
A sound rustled in the distance and Kale twisted in surprise. Ahead, he could see a pale glow that appeared as though it was coming from the ground near one of the willows.
“Neelan?” Kale slowly lifted his heels as he crept toward the light. “Illadar? Thomas?” he whispered.
The light intensified as he approached and, through the heavy fog, he could see a small item. The green tooth-like pendant reacted to Kale’s presence and began to pulsate with warm, rhythmic, glowing patterns. He reached a hand out and grasped the trinket loosely.
“Zasha?” Kale moved in a slow, circular motion. “Am I … dreaming?”
“Yes, little one.” The red-haired woman appeared, placing a palm upon Kale’s shoulder.
Kale’s heart raced as he took a step back.
“Worry not, my Firehart, I did not intend to frighten you.” Zasha glanced up at Kale; her eyes twinkling from the illumination of his pendant. Wrinkles folded around her eyes as she smiled. “I am so happy to see you—my son.” She gently grazed his cheek and tilted her head thoughtfully. “It pains me that our time runs short and I must now discuss the grim matters at hand.”
“Please tell me how to find you Zasha. If you are my mother, then I think it’s important for us to find the dragon eggs together.” Kale took her hand into his as he spoke. “You have no idea how it has felt to think I was the last of our kind.”
“Little one, I have told you that I cannot leave my location. It is for the sake of our species—and the future of not only the continent of Ravondore, but all of Revaxis. Know that I am safe from harm and will await your arrival.” Her expression grew stern as she heavily exhaled. “Now … I must warn you of a great danger. Though I am far, my senses have been throbbing with the notion that a powerful threat seeks to bring harm upon you. I feel that neither Jedah, nor Saldin have taken part in this most recent attack. While I cannot confirm this from where I am, these feelings have not left since I sensed you were in trouble.” Her honey-toned eyes widened. “Firehart, there is a darkness stirring, far stronger than anything you’ve ever encountered. Things are amiss and I feel it won’t be much longer before this evil steps forth to achieve its goal—whatever this may be. My son, you must leave to seek our retribution. You are not the only one who desires the eggs. It would be a grave day should the wrong hands obtain them. You must go by foot toward the desert. Your horses will not survive this journey. There, you will search for where the eggs were lost. Zandol, the Emerald Prince will show you the way. My faith lies with you, little one.”
But, the Emerald Prince is dead, Kale thought. What in Pan’s name is she talking about?
Questions raced through Kale’s mind. Yet, he knew seeking answers would prove futile. If what Zasha said proved true, Kale knew he must focus on the task at hand. There would be time to press for more information once the eggs were secure.
“I understand.” Kale released Zasha’s hand as he spoke.
“Do not worry, Firehart, for I am certain we will be together soon.” She smiled maternally before taking a step back into the forest of willows. Her silhouette quickly faded into the foggy surroundings until she could no longer be seen.
Kale ran a hand through his dampened black hair. Morning had come quickly and the night’s sleep felt entirely inadequate. He groaned and slid his feet onto the sandy ground. His neck pinched in pain as he stretched. The flat wooden table caused every fiber of his body to ache.
“Good morning, Kale.”
Kale’s eyes lit up as he saw the old man sitting upon a stool.
“Thomas! You’re all right!” Kale quickly stood, ignoring the jabbing sensation in his muscles.
“Indeed I am.” Thomas smiled. “Indeed I am.”
“How do you feel?” Kale questioned as he eyed the bandage on the side of the old sorcerer’s neck.
“Surprisingly well. Their healer, Konnar, seems to be incredibly knowledgable with herbs.” He closed the cover of an old book he had been reading before standing to grab his small beige pouch. “Alden has been kind enough to provide us with more comfortable accommodations during our stay here at his camp. It will allow us time to strategize our next course of action.”
“No,” Kale replied.
“Pardon?”
“I mean, no, we cannot stay here any longer, Thomas. Zasha came to me last night—we have to leave today. I’ll tell you more along the way, but trust that we mu
st go—on foot.”
“These old feet won’t make it far, you know, and it is not possible for me to teleport us after yesterday’s ambush. Are we heading toward the desert as planned?” Thomas questioned.
Kale nodded silently.
“Well, I suppose it is possible. Our destination is a day’s trip by foot—possibly two. We will need a copious supply of water and food rations. The desert is not a pleasant place, Kale. Many have perished trying to cross the barren land,” Thomas cautioned.
“We must try, Thomas. I can’t pass on a chance to save my brethren. And,” Kale paused and his jaw tightened, “Saldin still roams free. Who knows what he is planning. It was all too easy for him to escape—almost as though it had been planned.”
“A wise perception, Kale.” Thomas’ smile accentuated the leathery wrinkles on his face. “It amazes me how much you have grown in such little time. You’ve turned into quite a perceptive young man.”
“Humph.” Kale looked away from Thomas. “Don’t try to flatter me, old man. We both know what I truly am—and always will be.” He glanced down at his hands as he spoke and his mind revisited the previous night’s event.
“Is something wrong, Kale?” Thomas looked forward with concern.
“No … nothing.” Kale sighed, knowing he hadn’t convinced Thomas by his poor attempt to lie. “We can talk about it later. What’s most important now is to prepare for our trek through the desert. Where are Neelan and Illadar?”
“They left with Alden to eat and discuss what has been happening here since they made camp.”
Kale wasted no time in preparing for their trip. He quickly washed his hands and face in a bucket. The cool water felt refreshing after a night of lying in his sweat. As he exited the tall white tent, sunlight pounded down upon his dark hair. He groaned, taking note of the perfectly clear day. On a journey to the desert, a few clouds would have proven to be incredibly pleasant.
Both Thomas and Kale made way past another row of tents before coming to the familiar fire pit. Sitting in a circle, a distance away from the hot embers, were many men Kale had never seen before, along with Neelan, Illadar, and Alden.
“You’ve woken!” Neelan leapt up and threw her arms around Kale’s torso. “I had anticipated that you’d sleep all day. It didn’t sound like you rested much last night. Illadar and I could barely sleep with all your mumbling and tossing about.”
“Yeah, sorry about that. I need to talk to you.” Kale gently gripped her shoulders.
“Come on, kid!” Illadar’s voice interrupted. “Eat first, then you two love-birds can spend time together.”
Kale saw many ceramic bowls filled with an array of food—the aroma smelt delicious. There was tender pork patties, marinated in a sweet syrup base, shredded potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh, soft bread. Kale could only assume Alden had a connection with one of the nearby villages.
Though he was aware that time was of the essence—food was just as important. It would be nearly impossible to travel far on an empty stomach. Without knowing what lay ahead, Kale was confident this may be his last full meal for quite awhile. The succulent scent was too enticing to pass and he quickly found himself indulging on each dish.
“Alden, I don’t know who prepared this food, but I owe them my gratitude—it’s amazing.” It was the first time Kale had spoken to the commander since his appearance.
“You may give him thanks yourself. Here he comes.” Alden gestured a hand forward.
You have got to be joking. Kale rolled his eyes to the side, huffing in frustration.
The thick man approached in his brown leather suit, a butcher knife gripped within his oversized hands. Kale had no doubts this was the same man he nearly strangled upon their arrival.
“Ah, Jonas, we were just discussing your delightful cooking skills. Kale here would like to express his appreciation.”
Jonas took a step back at the sight of Kale. His hand rose to graze against the loosely wrapped bandages around his neck.
I suppose I’ll need to rectify this situation if I ever intend to keep Alden an ally, Kale thought to himself while forcing a smile.
“I don’t bite, you know,” Kale joked to lighten the mood. “Come sit, you are welcome to join us.”
Jonas did as told—his persona completely different from the night before. He was reserved, gentle, and polite.
“I want you to know how sorry I am for last night.” Jonas hung his shaved head as he spoke. “It was out of character for me. You see, we’ve been fighting for our cause for so long now, that on rare occasions we enjoy drinking a bit of ale to help stay sane through these long days. I had no idea that visitors would be arriving.” He turned to Neelan. “Please accept my most sincere apology.”
She hesitantly nodded.
Jonas returned his attention to Kale. “I don’t know who you are, or where you come from—nor do I desire such information—but after what happened last night, I am confident that I want you on our side. You possess something incredible. What—I cannot say, though I know you are a valuable ally.” He lifted his head and stared intensely at Kale. “I truly hope we can put what is in the past behind us and move forward.”
I really messed things up last night. Kale thought. Thomas is going to have a lot to say about this one. It seems they are aware I have capabilities that most humans do not.
“Here, here,” Alden spoke, raising a mug to the sky. “I am thrilled you two are able to make peace.” He stood, walking over to Kale and placing a firm hand upon his shoulder. “I don’t want you to assume however that my words last night are forgotten today. Let us go speak in private, boy.”
Kale hung his head. He was prepared for many prying questions about what had happened to Jonas’s neck. Alden was onto him and there would be no avoidance. They walked to a deserted area between two vacant tents, when Alden spun around to face Kale.
“My intuition tells me you are not human—or at least, not fully human. While I understand that we all must keep our own secrets, I do not take kindly to being deceived. I will allow you to remain here at our camp and join forces as an ally; however, I will be keeping a very close watch on you, Kale Firehart.” Alden ran a hand over his neatly pulled-back hair. “This information remains between us. Though Jonas has his suspicions, I prefer to not cause need for alarm amongst us.”
Kale nodded. “I understand and I must let you know we will not be staying. We’re leaving shortly to retrieve something of great importance to me. I’m sorry, but I cannot tell you any more than this.”
“Interesting. We travel as necessary and do not generally stay for prolonged periods at any given location. I must warn you that if you decide to embark on your own quest we may not meet again.” For the first time, Alden’s voice revealed a hint of weakness. It was as though he was reaching out, asking Kale to remain with them. Yet, he couldn’t allow his dignity to give into the desire.
“Forgive me, but I must go. I thank you for aiding us against the riders, however, just as you fight to ensure the safety of Ravondore—I too want great things to rise from this destruction.”
“Very well, then.” Alden’s face bore an obvious expression of disappointment. “Unless the hands of fate cross our paths once again—I bid thee farewell. I shall have your horses prepared for travel.”
“That won’t be necessary. We’re going by foot.” Kale took notice of Alden’s immediate confusion. “I can’t explain the details. I do ask that you please take our steeds. I’m sure you’ll find a good use for them with the amount of men you have.”
“I’m grateful.” Alden’s eyes glanced to both sides, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “I will warn you—do not take the main roads. I believe you will agree when I say someone is seeking to bring harm upon you. There are more things amiss that have been happening as well. Reports have come
in that the enchanted barrier surrounding The Forest of Forgotten Whispers has dissipated. Rees’Lok, as well as many other inhabitants are unaccounted for. To the north, there have also been reports of mass monsloths seen moving in a large herd at the mid of night. It’s as though someone is rallying forces—but who, or what, we cannot say.”
Kale took a moment to digest all this new information. He knew he had to tell Thomas as soon as possible. Trouble was stirring, and it meant time was more valuable now than ever before. Though he wanted to hurry back to the others, there was something tugging at his thoughts.
“Alden …” Kale cleared his throat, “why is it that you so intently sought Jedah—and now pursue his loyal men who roam free? I understand you desire to make our world a better place to live, but your intentions seem to go deeper than this. From the night you left Braxle, I could see it in your eyes—the passion and fury burning to lay the final blow upon them. I know, because I too share this same emotion.” He clenched his fists.
Alden looked to the floor, and then chuckled to himself. “I did not think I was so obvious with my feelings. I shall have to better my attempts to conceal them next time.” He glanced up. “I’ll tell you. Though I cannot understand why, when I do not trust your words—I feel you are fighting a cause much like our own. A small group of us—myself, and a few of the men here at camp, once lived in a small village to the west. It was a peaceful place, filled with good-hearted people. There were many families and children; laughter could be heard from dawn until dusk as they would play together.” Alden frequently swallowed as he spoke. “We were hunters—me and the other men—and would seek game in the nearby forest to supply the village with meat. It was our way of life.”
Kale nodded; he understood what it was like to leave the shelter of what one would call home in order to hunt for food.