Garo-lin stopped. Was he suffering some kind of effect from those strange roots, or did the pirate's words to his ears seem acceptable and worthy of attention?
— At the moment, a rebellion would not be the best option – the leader continued. – Even with means and allies, the most powerful weapon we can have is the support of the Dragons. With your influence, along with what we have to offer, all other Realms will be subdued... so we want you to know our side and listen to us.
— Do you think I'm going to listen to someone who did that? – He pointed to Garo-lin and his pitiful state.
Almakin giggled and commented:
— It's just a vilashi.
That phrase was the spark that made all the dragon's patience and willingness to resolve things peacefully disappear and give place to his first-order almaki to act.
Immediately, his surroundings, especially his hands, were enveloped by flames, very different from any that Garo-lin knew. They were not like the orange flames of his training or the colorful and unheated explosions. It were purple and moved furiously, exuding a vapor that distorted the air around them. That was the true soul of a Fire Dragon about to attack. Only the vision left Garo-lin terrified, since she had the capacity to measure how much power he was using and the damage it could do. But at the same moment the tightness in her throat intensified and she thought of nothing but the desperation of the air missing in her lungs.
— If you attack, I'll break her neck! – Threatened the almakin of nature.
And this had an effect on the dragon, who took a deep breath and lowered his almaki, until it disappeared. When the roots loosened and Garo-lin coughed, choking on his desperation to breathe again, the leader said:
— Since you're not willing to cooperate, Dragon, we'll have to use our own methods. – Then he pulled a leathery chain from his leather belt, which seemed to be a stream of black stones. – If you let us hold your hands, we'll release the vilashi girl. What do you think?
Blinking a few times, Garo-lin tried to understand the level of silliness of that proposal. Attacking an almakin would be a null effort, since that would not stop him from using his power to attack, and pirates would not be so stupid at that point. But the Dragon did not seem to have bothered to do that, so, he had really believed that he would be at an advantage by accepting the proposal.
— Then, let her go, now! – He demanded, holding out his arms.
Garo-lin tried to tell him no, but with a gesture of the almakin controlling them, the roots began to remove their tentacles from above her and they still released the rope that held it to the stake, except the one in their hands and the gag. At the same moment, the leader passed the chain in the hands of the dragon, who did not seem to have realized that the deal had not been completely fulfilled in the part that referred to it. However, as soon the tips of the chains were attached, something seemed to happen to the dragon, who just looked confused to the handcuff and said in an urgent tone:
— Let her go, now!
— It was a terrible choice for you. – The leader announced, punching him in the face, which made him fall to the side. – If you're not with us, we'll have to eliminate him. – What can a Dragon do without his almaki? – And then signaled to the other men who until that moment only observed.
Easily, one of them grabbed Dul'Maojin by the arms and set him on his feet, while the other two began to pound.
— It would have been much simpler if we had him as our ally. – Said the bearded pirate, seeming to revel in the rare scene of a Dragon being beaten by those whom the almakins disregarded. – But eliminating the greatest of Dragons will be invaluable!
-AAANNNNF! Garo-lin gave a muffled cry, trying to get to his feet, and all he could do was fall again as the roots circled his legs and held her so he would not run away.
Without caring about her, the group concentrated their attention on the great feat they were carrying out by proving that even the Fire Dragon Almakia was not untouchable. So they did not realize that someone else was sneaking through the boulders and soon reached Garo-lin, immediately cutting off the roots and ropes that held his hand.
— Garo-nan! She murmured as soon as his friend took the gag out of her, surprised to see him. – How...
— Let's run away! Fast! – He pulled her arm.
— No! – She looked desperately at the Dragon she was taking a beating.
— It's his plan! – Her friend made her stand up urgently.
Not being able to figure out where the plan was in that – but thinking that if Garo-nan was there, he should know more than she did – Garo-lin let herself be carried and ran with him, circling the stones so that they could reach the mombelula without being noticed. But when they were on the retractable ladder, she could not contain herself and looked back, and what she saw left her paralyzed.
Dul'Maojin, the proud Fire Dragon, who imposed respect on the Institute through his power and rude attitudes, was kneeling on the ground, unable to defend himself, bleeding, being kicked by people who were not even almakins and who laughed satisfied with it. Then a forgotten request sounded in the back of his head: Watch over the Dragons. Although she did not understand that time, now she could find a meaning for what the heiress Dul'Maojin meant.
Looking beyond the fact that the Dragons were arrogant and haughty, that was their strength. Because they believed that they were above all others, they acted in a determined way, regardless of the world's hostilities, because they have always been above that. So, if was supposed, that no one could be against them, why would the only one who will dictated Almakia's course was letting himself be humiliated? Do not let him get lost, that's what Kandara Dul'Maojin asked to her. Just as Garo-lin was proud of her vilashi side, she realized, at that moment, that she had acquired a proud almakin side too and could not accept that in silence. Then something bubbled inside her and burst into a scream:
-YOU ARE AN IDIOT?!
The attackers looked around as they realized the shout came from the opposite side of what it was supposed to be, and then they realized the hostage had escaped.
— Garo-lin! – Garo-nan called desperately, already in the cabin of the mombelula, for he believed she was right behind him.
But she did not listen to him. All she did was stare to the Fire Dragon, in fury. Dul'Maojin raised his injured and bleeding face, breathing hard, not even looking like the Dragon that he was.
— WHY DO YOU NOT REACT?! YOU ARE THE FIRE DRAGON! – Garo-lin tried to move forward, but she was stopped by Garo-nan, who knew her well enough to understand that she had taken on her punisher side and grabbed her so she would not make a stupid thing.
— You lost your mind?! – He tried to give sense to her.
— THE REAL FIRE DRAGON WOULD NEVER ALLOW THEM TO KNOCK HIM OUT THAT WAY! – she continued shouting, while trying to get rid of the friend who prevented her from going there to kick the dragon himself. – I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS, NOT FROM A PERSON WHO ALMOST KILLED ME DROWNED BY PUNCHING ME! GET UP NO, KRISSION DUL’MAOJIN! AND BE A CRAP OF A FIRE DRAGON!
Amazed, perhaps more by the fact of a vilashi gives a direct and disrespectful order to a dragon than to try to escape, the aggressive pirates looked at her leader without knowing what to do.
-RUN! – The dragon screamed, spitting blood. – RUN AND TELL TO KANDARA THAT THEY HAVE DARK STONES!
— What? – She made a face of confusion.
But whatever these stones were, they seemed to be something extremely important she should not know which required drastic measures from the leader:
— Kill! – He commanded to the spearmen, and they immediately dropped the Fire Dragon to the ground, which fell without any resistance, and they set out on top of her.
Garo-nan pulled her hard, but even if they moved as fast as they could, they would not be able to climb the stairs before they were caught, and then she prepared to attack, willing to, at least, not to facilitate.
-GARO-LIN! – She heard the dragon bellowing her nam
e.
An explosion took place right before their eyes, causing men to fly up, to be thrown over the mombelula and to fall on the edge of the quarry.
Frightened, as the dust descended, Garo-lin saw the hole that had opened on the floor close to her feet. From him followed a small trail of crushed stones to the dragon's hands, which were flat on the ground, as if something had pulverized a path. He looked directly at her, panting, and when he could see her and confirm that she had not been struck, he collapsed on the ground completely without strength.
— How he... – The almakin of nature began to ask the leader, but he was too perplexed to finish.
Even though he appeared to be in the same state, the leader thought quickly and took the weapon from one of the men who had turned away with a clear intention.
— NOOOO! – Garo-lin ran at once.
As he lifted the spear to attack the incompetent dragon before he had time to recover, the pirate was struck by a ball of fire that dragged him swiftly to the quarry wall and exploded as his body touched the stones, causing a collapse. Before the almakin of nature could think of reacting, a hand with a flaming blade appeared on his neck, along with a threat:
— Move your finger and I'll bury him with him!
At the determined expression of the vilashi and not believing that all power came from her, he let his hands fall to the side of the body, defeated.
Chapter 17 – Always stay in a visible place
Garo-lin knew that he could only use that much power because of some supernatural mistake that struck Almakia at that very moment, and that she would not be so lucky if he tried again. Then, acting quickly, oblivious of her own pain, with the help of Garo-nan, she tied the stunned almakin of nature in the same place she was before, and the two together lifted the faint Fire Dragon to carry him to the mombelula. She could not help but pass the collapsed quarry and saw one of the pirates' leader's arms leap out. Not wanting to think that he was crushed down there and that it had been her own fault, she only hastened to escape as quickly as possible. And she did not mind having to fly to get the furthest away from that place.
Concentrating on the reins and the path she took, she left Garo-nan to give some care to the dragon, who had been lying in the cabin. Even though she was badly hurt, she did not understand how he could lose all his strength with only a blast. That first reaction he had shown the size of his power, which surely would not be reduced to so little that even the almakin had all his bones shattered.
— I can not say for sure – said Garo-nan – But one arm is broken, there's a big cut in the forehead, and I do not want to imagine the damage that those kicks did.
— We need the Lightning Dragon, and quick! She said, knocking twice on the reins and increasing the speed of the mombelula, holding on to keep her grip even as her legs trembled and her head throbbed.
Carefully, Garo-nan removed the chain that held his hands, and at once the dragon moved and opened his eyes.
— He woke up! – Exclaimed the vilashi and helped him to lean better.
Dul'Maojin, for his part, had a confused look on his face, trying to figure out what had happened. Then suddenly he remembered and risked rising:
— What? – He began to ask, but a pang of pain made him fall again.
— Do not move! – Demanded Garo-lin, using all the authority he dared to have at that moment.
— Are you alright?
Garo-lin looked at the dragon with an unrecognizable face, squeezing one side of his body with a grimace of pain, and yet asking such a question, when it was clear he was the one who should be questioned about it. But all she said was:
— I'll take you to Zawhart, do not worry.
***
— Pirates! – Kidari unnecessarily repeated the information to the Lightning Dragon, as if this could awaken in him all the obvious dread she had of those people. Obviously, that group of bad guys did not have a good reputation in Overseas.
— They wanted to make a proposal? – Asked the dragon, ignoring the guard and gesturing for her to continue what she was doing.
When they arrived at Godan village, and managed to get the mombelula to lie down wisely alone in the same place she had been for the last few days, they were immediately greeted by the Lightning Dragon and Kidari, seeming to have been alert for all that time, waiting. As soon as he saw the state of the leading dragon, Zawhart immediately began to give orders, demanding that a place be placed where he could place the wounded. Garo-nan's mother was quick to run through the doors of the room where she had been staying, and soon shewn enough blankets to form something like the comfy beds that existed in a reality outside the village. As much as the floors of the Vashashis houses were lined and comfortable in their opinion, the situation demanded something better. And just as the dragon had been carefully placed there, Zawhart drove out the whole village that was gathering, curious, especially the Garo-lin brothers, who wanted to keep it at all costs. Only then, with the doors closed, was able to begin your work, checking each friend's injury, while Garo-lin received emergency attention from Kidari.
Though she considered Kodorin her friend, Garo-lin could not hide that she was more afraid of letting her use her almaki for lightning in her wounds than of being kidnapped by pirates, even if they were only the superficial bruises . But she could not demand the attention of the Lightning Dragon, as he dealt with his friend's wounds, far worse than her own.
— Yes – she answered absently, watching Kidari's hands over the bruises on her wrists. – They said many things about the Fire Dragon joining them, about learning about almaki's weakness and about a meeting on the Routes.
— Did they know about the meeting on the Routes? – That seemed to startle him – Damn it! How did you know?!
— Really had a meeting on Routes? – Garo-lin asked in amazement, and all he got was a cold dragon's glance that clearly said she did not need to know about it. So, preferring not to interfere with his mood while driving, she simply kept counting. They did not seem to really want to attack at first. They thought Dul'Maojin would listen to what they said... but he did not listen.
— Of course I would not listen – the Fire Dragon said, though his voice was weak, like someone sleeping.
— But if you did not listen, how did you get hurt like that?
Garo-lin assessed whether or not to tell her that it was not for her that her neck was broken, but Dul'Maojin murmured something to the friend who rescued her from that answer.
— Dark Stones? – Repeated the Lightning Dragon. – How come they have Dark Stones, Kris?! It do not exist!
— If it's on that chain, it's with Garo-nan – Garo-lin said.
Vinshu Zawhart looked at her and then asked,
— Did you touch those stones, vilashi?
— No – she finished after a moment's thought. – I helped carry him while I was with them, but I do not remember touching it.
— Did not you feel sick while you were around it?
In fact, in the state he was in at that moment, even if he had felt something, she would not be able to identify now.
In the face of her silence, the Lightning Dragon ordered:
Stay away from them! Ask to your friend to buried somewhere deep down where they can never be taken.
— Why? – She asked, finding it strange how he had spoken.
— Briefly, they suck almaki. And that explains why Krission is in this state... – and then he quarreled with his friend. – How did you not realize they were Dark Stones, Kris? – They could kill!
— It should not exist! – He replied, defending himself, already recovered and visibly returning in his usual way.
— Do not move! – Warned the Lightning Dragon. -Or I can change the position of your bones!
Even though this was not possible, the Fire Dragon was silent until his friend had finished. However, even a powerful almaki of healing was not enough to leave him completely well.
As it turned out, the dragon's energy was s
o low that there would not be enough in his body for a quick cure. In the end, Dul'Maojin had to have his arm and head bandaged, and he probably would have had some support for some time.
— You're going to have to stand still for at least two days, Kris. Without moving! Or her bones could break again, – Zawhart warned in a tone of regret, more for the fact that they had to stay there than for the state of Dul'Maojin, of which he was sure he would recover if he obeyed what he prescribed. And then he stood up and turned his attention to the other patient, releasing Kidari – Head, vilashi! – He asked in a tone of who was about to do him a great favor.
Not having the alternative to refuse, she allowed herself to be treated by the dragon, since she knew that the healing effects of the almaki were far more efficient than any ointment or bandage that could be provided in her village.
— I need you to tell me everything, just as it happened, vilashi – he begged her, lower, so the Fire Dragon would not hear. – I need details to know what we're dealing with. Maybe it's dangerous for your village to stay here, but I can not make Kris travel... maybe you should talk to Kandara directly.
***
When the Lightning Dragon had said it would be best to speak directly to the heiress Dul'Maojin, Garo-lin imagined that this would happen through the sphere. At the moment, she had not thought that when he learned of his brother's situation, she would come straight to his village to see him. However, that was what she was doing and would still arrive that night, wherever she came from.
Following the guidance of the Lightning Dragon, Garo-lin remained in the center of the village, at the home of Garo-nan, where the Dragons were staying. As his family's home was closer to the confines of the trunk fortress, it would be better to be where more people would be and closer to the mombelula in case of immediate flight. Because they did not know exactly who the group of pirates were, let alone how many they were, more of them could be around.
Almakia_The vilashi and the Dragons Page 22