by Dana Gricken
“How do you know I am who you say I am? I could make up stories about you too. Where’s your proof?” Elara asked, even more bitter than before.
“The proof is on your arm. Guards, show it to the court.”
A nearby guard harshly grabbed her left arm and she winced, holding it up for the court. The birthmark on her arm was clearly visible for the room to see as the onlookers gasped in revelation. She watched as her deepest, darkest secret was broadcasted on every television screen in the country.
“The legend says that although you have the full appearance of a human, there’s one thing that sets you apart from everyone else. The birthmark on your arm – which is similar to that of the mark the dragons and witches are born with - proves your identity. No human has ever had this birthmark before. The mark is a gift to humankind because it shows the traitors among us – and it proves you’re not just a myth. Furthermore, you carried a locket addressed to the Dragonwitch. How do you explain that?”
“It was a gift from my Dad. Beyond that, it’s none of your business,” Elara sneered, as the guard dropped her arm without warning and it slapped against the side of her body.
“You seem agitated. Was that a touchy subject? Are you afraid to admit the truth?” King Angus asked, smirking. “Your attitude is all the proof I need. I have faith in the Creator that justice will be served.”
“I do too, but I think we both have faith in a different kind of Creator,” Elara replied, harshly.
“We’ve heard enough. What will we do with her? We can’t be too sympathetic. I think a harsh sentence is in order,” Hadrian’s brother interjected, as a wicked grin spread across his face.
“See, my son? Fergus has the right idea. I don’t know why you’ve decided to defend the Dragonwitch, but if you don’t see the error of your ways soon, you’ll be joining this girl in her punishment,” The King replied, firmly.
“Lord Angus, I think we can find a simple solution to our problem. I’ve spent time alone with her. I was never afraid. I don’t think she’s a danger to anyone just because of the mark on her arm,” David spoke up, gently.
“David, put your personal feelings for the girl aside. She’s an abomination, and abominations must answer for their crimes. Dragons and witches have no place in a moral and civilized society. Can’t you see what damage they’ve caused already? Do you want to be responsible for another Serenity? I won’t tolerate this Dragonwitch, and neither should you.”
“May I make a suggestion, Dad?” The young man named Fergus asked.
“Go ahead, Fergus – but don’t waste my time.”
Fergus stood up and stepped forward in front of the court, clearing his throat. He made sure he was in perfect view of the cameras at all times. “I say we release her and a group of wildhounds into the battle arena. If she isn’t the Dragonwitch, they’ll maul her to death and she won’t be able to stop it, but her reputation will be saved. If she’s really the Dragonwitch, she’ll try to use either her dragon or witch powers and the Knights will be prepared to take her down. Amusing, either way.”
The King thought about this for a moment, while Elara’s stomach lurched in horror. She had seen a wildhound once when she was a child. It was enough to give her nightmares. The King was tempted by this offer, as a smile spread across his face.
“You can’t seriously be considering this, Dad! The wildhounds are too vicious! This isn’t justice; it’s simply savage!” Hadrian hollered, balling his fists in anger.
“I agree with Prince Hadrian, my Lord. The wildhounds will rip her to shreds. She won’t stand a chance,” David replied, nervously. “And if she’s innocent, there will be blood on our hands.”
“I’ve made my decision,” King Angus said before he paused to scan the room. “All who are in favor of this sentencing, please stand.”
After a few seconds of silence, Elara was shocked to see the entire row of pews empty. All of the people in the courtroom had stood up in agreement of Fergus’ idea. On the television screen, people across the country cheered and celebrated. It seemed everyone supported her death.
Hadrian scoffed, while David bowed his head shamefully in defeat. King Angus nodded in approval, while Fergus snickered. This was his plan all along. Her innocence never mattered.
“Dad!” Hadrian warned in a stern voice, but the King waved his hand at him in dismissal.
“It’s settled then,” The King said, standing up from his throne. “At this time tomorrow, you’ll face the wildhounds in our arena to determine your legacy. Will you die a human or an abomination? The world will see. If you are the Dragonwitch as I presume, you deserve your fate - no matter how cruel and bloody it may be,” He replied, while nodding to the nearby guards.
“Guards!” He called out. “Take the girl back to her cell. She won’t be released until tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, your Majesty,” The guards replied in unison, grabbing Elara’s arms.
“Wait!” She cried out, struggling. “You can’t do this!”
The King ignored her pleas, and the guards dragged her down the corridor back to her prison cell. They owned her now. She was just a pawn.
With a Little Help from My Friends
The sun was beginning to set as the cell became gradually darker over the last few hours. Elara had kept herself occupied by counting to a thousand in her head, and then back down again. She was beginning to go crazy. As her stomach grumbled, she wondered if the guards had forgotten about her. If she was going to die tomorrow – and it seemed likely - having dinner the night before didn’t really matter.
Suddenly, a shadowy figure appeared in the dimly-lit hall and the cell door opened. She rose to her feet immediately, eager to see who awaited her. She readied herself, just in case. She was prepared to fight if it came to that.
Prince Hadrian walked into the cell, with two bowls of food in his hands. It was tempting to hit him and run, but she couldn’t do that to him – not after he’d been so nice to her. He shrugged and handed one of the bowls to her.
“It’s just vegetable stew. Nothing special.”
She gracefully accepted the stew, with a smile in appreciation. “Thank you.”
“The guards are transitioning shifts, so we have about twenty minutes until they come back. Do you mind if I eat with you?” He asked, cautiously.
“No, go ahead. I could use some company,” Elara replied, as the two of them sat down together on the floor.
The stew wasn’t the best she ever had, but it did the trick. If it were her last meal, she was going to enjoy it. The first few minutes of the dinner were accompanied by an awkward silence before Hadrian sighed.
“I wanted to apologize for my Dad,” He said before he paused. “I’m not going to lie to you, Elara. There’s a very good chance you won’t survive tomorrow. I don’t think I could live with myself if I didn’t tell you how sorry I am for this mess.”
“It’s okay, Hadrian. It’s not your fault.”
“I still feel guilty,” Hadrian replied. “I should’ve done more.”
“Did you hear from my Dad?” Elara asked. “Is he all right?”
“He’s fine, but he took the news pretty hard. He knows where you are, but unfortunately, you aren’t allowed any visitors from outside the castle walls. He’ll be at the arena tomorrow. I made sure of it,” Hadrian replied. “He’s worried about you. He wanted you to know that he’ll find a way to help you.”
“Well, I hope he does. My life depends on it,” Elara muttered. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Ask away.”
“I saw what happened in the courtroom. You challenged the King – talking back to him on television. Why?” Elara asked, taking another bite of her stew.
“Evil needs to be challenged. Those who know about evil and allow it to exist are just as bad,” He replied, before removing the ring on his middle finger.
Elara took a good look at it. The ring seemed very expensive and time-consuming to create. It was golden, with an interwoven
circle design. Hadrian looked at it with honor and pride.
“You’re not about to propose to me, are you?” Elara asked, jokingly.
Hadrian chuckled, shaking his head. “Can I trust you?”
Elara nodded. “Of course. Do you really think I can betray your secrets?”
“Fair enough. My Dad doesn’t know this, but for the past few months, I’ve been involved with an underground group of people. There aren’t many of us. Humanity’s afraid of dragons and witches. You’ve seen it firsthand. We call ourselves the New Dawn, and we believe that a new era is coming shortly – one of unity and acceptance. It’s our motto.”
“What does the New Dawn do?”
“We’ve secretly helped hundreds of dragons and witches flee to safety through safe houses and underground tunnels. Some of these people were placed on death row. Some even still live here in disguise with our help. It’s been difficult – especially with all the cameras around. When the New Dawn first began, being a dragon or a witch wasn’t as dangerous as it is today. You can thank my Dad for that,” Hadrian replied, before handing the ring to her. “I’d like you to wear it.”
“Why do you want me to have it?”
“If you wear it, dragons and witches involved in the organization will know you mean them no harm. It’s kind of like a safety symbol.”
“Of course. I’d be honored,” She replied, slipping the ring on her left middle finger. “And your Dad has no idea?”
“I don’t think so. If he did, I’d probably be locked away in this cell with you. Then again, he was never too smart.”
“Do you know why the King hates the dragons and witches so much?”
“The King would never admit it – he needs to look powerful and strong, after all - but he, just like many other Knights and citizens, are afraid of dragons and witches,” Hadrian said before he paused.
“And because, when I was a young boy, my mother was murdered by a witch. My older brother, Fergus, was the one who discovered her body. He said he saw someone with a staff leaving the scene, and he just assumed it was a witch. They never found her murderer,” Hadrian continued. “Part of me is glad I wasn’t the one who found her body. Maybe I’d feel the same way he does? Anyways, I think this is the real reason my Dad hates dragons and witches. He’s still mourning and looking for revenge. He believes that since witches and dragons are more powerful than humans, they’re more dangerous.”
“I’m sorry. I lost my Mom too,” Elara replied. “Even after what happened, you don’t hold a grudge. How do you do it?”
“Well, we can’t assume all dragons and witches are evil. It’s just unfair. The truth is, some dragons and witches are evil, while some are good, and some are just trying to make it by. Much like humans, I guess – except no one freaks out and wants to kill the human race if we do something terrible.”
“You seem to know a lot about the dragons and witches. What else can you tell me? Weren’t the dragons and witches fighting each other long before the Grey Order?”
“According to ancient stories, yes. Dragons and witches were among the first to evolve. Legend has it that when humans evolved, they lived side by side with them. Supposedly, 500 years ago, there was a great war called the War of Mythania. Mythania was a paradise city with dragons, humans, and witches, and I hear it was beautiful and free of hatred. Nobody knows why, but conflict started that caused a giant war. Now many call the rumored kingdom, The Lost City.”
“What happened after the war?”
“Apparently, the dragons, humans, and witches separated for good, and Mythania was destroyed. The humans feared the dragons and witches after the way they acted during the war. The wounds never healed. The conflict still exists today, with the Grey Knights making things worse. The damage was so bad that it separated dragons and witches from their own kind. I hear they live far away from each other in their kingdoms. The fable would explain a lot if it’s true, but who knows?”
“And the Grey Knights started right after.”
“At first, they were called the Sterling Knights, created to keep the peace. As time went on, they changed their name and became more interested in protecting humans only. They believed that the dragons and witches were just too dangerous to be around. My ancestors were involved in it, every step of the way,” Hadrian replied before he sighed. “My Dad hasn’t done anything to help the situation, now has he?”
“Where’s Mythania now?” Elara asked. “Is it possible to find it?”
Hadrian shrugged. “I have no idea. Explorers have searched for it, but it’s never been found. Some dragons and witches still believe in it, and call it the Promised Land. I’d give anything to live in a place without war. Anyways, that’s enough for our history lesson. I don’t want to bore you too much in one night.”
“Out of curiosity, do you enjoy being a prince?” She asked, changing the subject.
Hadrian laughed, shaking his head. “Not at all. I think my brother does, but he’s always been power-hungry. Many people dream of being royalty, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. People treat me differently just because I’m the son of a King,” He replied before he looked up from his stew at Elara. “You’re different, though. You don’t treat me like a prince but like a normal person. I haven’t had a regular conversation like this in years. It’s like...you understand me.”
Elara smiled and placed a hand on his. Hadrian blushed and looked away. He cleared his throat and abruptly stood up, grabbing his bowl.
“The guards will be back soon, and I have something I need to do tonight. I wanted you to know that I enjoyed our talk. I hope it isn’t our last,” He said as he turned to open the cell door, and shut it behind him. “Have a good night, Elara.”
In seconds, he was gone. Wherever he fled off to, it seemed important.
“You too,” Elara said quietly, under her breath.
DARKNESS WAS ALREADY in full effect as Hadrian walked as quickly through the castle as he could, nodding politely to the few guards on duty. He exited the castle and walked towards the nearby empty field. Looking over his shoulder, he saw nothing but pitch black, before he opened a secret tunnel underground.
A shadowy-figure stuck their head out of the tunnel and then climbed out. The two greeted each other with a smile, as the figure dusted the dirt and rock off of himself. They had to be quick. If they were caught, everything would be ruined.
Even though the dead of the night made it hard to see the figure, he was dressed in a dark, protective cloak that hid his pointed ears and other non-human features. His beautiful golden eyes pierced through the darkness.
“Have you heard? The Dragonwitch has been found. She’s being kept in the castle as a prisoner,” Hadrian told him.
“I know. It’s hard to miss when everyone’s been talking about it. Does your father really believe it’s her?” The figure asked, nervously.
“Unfortunately, yes. I tried to stop him – to try to get him to see reason - but it didn’t work. He’s certain about her destiny. Things are bad,” Hadrian replied, scowling.
The figure bit his lip, dying to know more about Elara. “How is she?” He finally asked.
“Alive - for now, at least. Tomorrow, she’ll be forced into the arena and attacked by angry wildhounds. Can you believe that? It was Fergus’ idea. I’ve never heard of a worse punishment.”
“Her abilities aren’t fully developed yet. She won’t stand a chance,” The figure replied, shaking his head.
“I know. That’s why there’s no time to waste. You know what you need to do then,” Hadrian replied.
The figure nodded. “Oh, don’t worry about me. I’ll be ready.”
THE NEXT MORNING CAME quickly and Elara still hadn’t gotten any sleep. She was too busy thinking about her fate. Besides, the shackles around her wrists didn’t exactly make for the most comfortable sleeping position. She would give anything to go back to her little house in the Wards when she was just ‘the girl who walked through fire’ and not public e
nemy number one.
The cell doors opened suddenly, and David and another Knight entered the room. The Knight roughly reached out to pull Elara to her feet, but David shot him a menacing glare and swatted his hand away. The Knight took the hint and stepped back quickly.
David led Elara out of the cell, with the other Knight following a few steps behind. Various other guards and Knights passed by, catching a quick glance at the prisoner and scowling. David stopped abruptly, turning around to face the Knight.
“Could you give us a few minutes, please?” David asked.
“No problem, Sir David. I’ll be waiting outside for you,” The Knight replied, as he left the castle.
“How are you feeling?” David asked Elara.
“I’m all right,” She replied, but the fear was clear in her voice. “As good as anyone can be while facing death.”
David suddenly leaned in and pulled Elara into a hug while slipping something small into her pocket. The nearby guards stared but knew better than to mess with David.
“The guards confiscated your locket when they took you prisoner, but I got it back for you. I can tell it’s important to you, and if this is the last time we’ll see each other, I want you to have it forever. I’m sorry I couldn’t do more,” He whispered in her ear, shielding his voice from the guards passing by.
They had just pulled away from the hug when the guard from the cell earlier entered the castle again, walking over to David and Elara.
“We need to leave now. We shouldn’t keep the King waiting. You know how angry he gets,” The guard said, gesturing towards the door.
David nodded, and he escorted Elara outside where they were greeted by hundreds of angry citizens, pushing, shoving and yelling, trying to get a good look at Elara. Reporters shoved microphones in her face, pelting her with questions. The flash from their cameras was nearly blinding. Everyone was desperate to get a rise out of her. David protectively wrapped his arms around her, shielding her from the unruly crowd.