The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village

by Ronesa Aveela

  “It actually might work.” Diva grabbed one of her own arrows and poked the vulture.

  “What about me?” Pavel said. “Can I have one?”

  Diva said over her shoulder, “Don’t you have a gadget that will scare a vulture?”

  “I’m squashed against the wall.” Pavel squirmed behind Theo. “I can’t turn around to get into my backpack.”

  “Grab an arrow from my quiver if you can reach it,” Theo told him.

  Lesh’s head swiveled, pecking at one arrow after the other. She jumped back when Theo struck her chest. With several angry grunts, the vulture hopped away, spread her wings, and flew off.

  “She definitely won’t leave her nest now,” Diva said. “She’ll be waiting for us.”

  “You and Pavel distract her,” Theo said. “I’ll climb up and take Lamia’s soul from the nest.”

  “That won’t work. Your leg’s injured. I’ll go.” Diva dropped her pouch in the cave and darted up the path. Hidden behind a boulder, she motioned to the boys to attract Lesh’s attention.

  Pavel looked toward Diva with dreamy eyes. “What a girl.”

  Theo nudged him. “Pay attention, lover boy. Diva’s life is at stake.” Keeping his bow and quiver with him, he let his backpack slide to the cave floor before exiting. His heart racing, Theo waved his hands and danced like a shaman, yelling to the vulture, “Hey, Lesh, you ugly bird, come and get me.”

  The vulture spread her wings and hurtled toward them. Boo croaked and flew off Pavel’s shoulder and back into the cave.

  While the vulture hovered above, Theo continued his antics and insults. Diva darted out of her hiding spot and sped upward.

  Lesh swiveled her head, hissed, and reversed direction, swooping toward Diva.

  “Watch out!” Theo shouted.

  The vulture caught the edge of Diva’s robe in her beak. Diva rammed her fist into Lesh’s neck, but the vulture’s beak clamped on like a vise.

  “Leave her alone!” Pavel yelled.

  “No!” Theo screamed at the same time. His skin felt clammy. Diva might die because of him, because he hadn’t been able to get to the egg before her. “I’m coming.”

  He hobbled up the path, but tripped, twisting the ankle of his aching leg. Groaning, he pounded the ground in frustration. He had to do something to save her. He’d crawl to her if he had to.

  Diva pulled an arrow from her quiver and poked Lesh. The vulture let go of her clothes and hopped out of the way.

  “Diva!” Pavel ran to where Theo was.

  “Pavel, stop.” Theo pulled himself into a sitting position. “You’ll distract her. She might make it without our help.”

  Diva clutched the feather-and-claw talisman at her side. Twirling, she stirred up pebbles and debris. When the whirlwind settled, she’d turned into a beautiful white falcon.

  The falcon was so much smaller than Lesh. Theo had to be prepared if things turned worse. He pulled out the silver arrow.

  Her head wobbling, Lesh hissed when the falcon pecked her neck. The vulture twisted her head and grabbed for the falcon with her beak, catching the falcon’s foot. Screeching, the falcon flapped her wings to escape, but Lesh held fast.

  “Diva, hold on! Don’t give up.” Theo stood, putting weight on his uninjured foot. He couldn’t fail. Diva needed him.

  Pavel yelled, “Theo, help her! Lesh will kill her!”

  Theo grabbed his bow, his hands trembling. If he didn’t shoot Lesh, the vulture would kill Diva. He nocked the silver arrow, but the shaft stung him. It spoke in his mind: “Not yet. You can shoot me only once. Save me for Lamia.”

  The pain in his leg grew worse, and everything spun. He removed an arrow Diva had given him. With the string stretched taut, he took aim.

  “Shoot Lesh now!” Pavel screamed. “Careful, don’t kill Diva!”

  “I. Can. Do. This.” Now would be a good time for the trick Diva had taught him to work. Focusing on the spot between Lesh’s eyes until it filled him mind, Theo took a deep breath and let the arrow fly.

  Chapter 11

  Unraveling Nature’s First Clue

  An ugly cry escaped the vulture as the arrow pierced her head. Her body collapsed onto the rocks.

  Huddled next to Theo, Pavel looked toward the nest. The falcon lay still next to Lesh. “We have to help Diva!” He lurched forward, but Theo grabbed his shirt.

  “Pavel, get the jar of healing ointment from Diva’s pouch. Quick.”

  While Pavel dashed to the cave, Theo hobbled to the summit. He held the falcon in his lap, stroking the bird’s neck. The moment Pavel arrived, Theo stuck his fingers into the yellow goop and rubbed a glob into the falcon’s wounds.

  The bird lay still.

  Pavel leaned closer. “Come on, Diva, wake up.”

  The rising and falling of the falcon’s chest slowed, then stopped.

  “No!” Theo reached into the jar and coated more ointment onto the bird’s wound. Diva had to survive.

  Pavel wiped tears from his eyes. “She’s dead!”

  Theo wouldn’t cry. He could be brave, even though his insides were torn apart with grief. His pounding chest sounded hollow, bereft of his friend and helper. What would he do without Diva? He stroked the bird’s feathers.

  The falcon twitched.

  “What?” Theo jerked his hand away. “Pavel, I think she’s o—”

  Another twitch, and the bird spread her wings and flew off his lap.

  “—kay,” Theo finished.

  With erratic movements, the falcon soared into the sky. She wrapped her wings around her body and twirled downward. The closer she got to the rocks, her movements stirred up debris. When the dust cleared, Diva had regained her girl form.

  “You’re alive!” Pavel took a step closer with arms outstretched, then stopped, his cheeks red.

  Theo stood and shuffled around Diva, looking for injuries. “Are you okay?”

  “Only a small scratch.” Diva traced a thin line on her palm. “Samodivi heal quickly—even without ointment. But thank you for your quick thinking.”

  Pavel picked up a stray white feather and put it into his pocket. “That’s ... that’s ... so amazing. I didn’t know you could ... change into a bird. And such a beautiful one.”

  Diva smiled.

  Pavel quickly turned away and tapped Theo on the shoulder. “What a shot.”

  Theo glanced at the dead vulture. Blood soaked her snowy-white head, and one wing was bent. The arrow stuck out between her eyes. His stomach twisted into knots. This was the first time he had ever killed ... murdered anything. He couldn’t even stand watching chickens get their heads chopped off or fish being gutted. How could the dragon tolerate herself, knowing all the people and creatures she killed?

  “Now to find Lamia’s soul.” Diva looked toward the nest.

  With Diva and Pavel behind him, Theo took cautious steps to the top of the crag, looking skyward in case Lesh had a mate nearby. He peered into the nest. Two giant eggs lay nestled in the hollow: one white and one as black as an opal. The black one glowed, lit from within by what looked like flames. When Theo removed the black egg, it vibrated. Warmth and a steady beat pulsed within.

  Deep purple clouds darkened the sky, and flashes streaked over Cherna Mountain, which loomed in the distance. A low rumble echoed, chilling Theo. The dragon was coming.

  Diva withdrew an arrow and nocked it in her bow. “Hurry! Lamia must know we’ve found one of her souls. Destroy it now, Theo.”

  “How?” He bit his lower lip.

  Pavel handed him a sharp rock. “Try this.”

  Theo secured the egg in a crevice and swung the rock at it with all his might. The shell remained intact, but a scream came from within.

  The dragon’s roar grew louder, rumbling like thunder.

  Pavel looked up. “Hurry, try again.”

  Theo bashed the egg with the rock a second time. Again the creature inside shrieked, but the rock didn’t even scratch the shell.

  A gigantic sha
dow eclipsed the sky. Theo chanced a glance up. The dragon was almost overhead! She’d be on top of them in minutes. Flames rained from the beast like arrows. Her roar boomed, making his ears ring.

  “Think of something else,” Pavel screamed. “Lamia will burn us into charcoal.”

  “Magic!” Theo choked out the word with nervous tension. “Lamia’s soul is magic. It might take magic to crack it.” The silver arrow said he could shoot it only once. It didn’t say he couldn’t use it other ways.

  Pavel shook Theo. “Stop talking and do it! The dragon’s coming straight to the nest!”

  His hands trembling, Theo pulled the silver arrow from his quiver and touched the tip on the black egg. The shell cracked and split in two. Green steam smelling like burning sulfur poured out. A black dragon uncurled itself and crawled from the egg, grasping a golden key in its mouth.

  “Don’t let it escape.” Diva grabbed for the dragon, but it slid between Pavel’s feet.

  Theo snatched the tiny dragon with one hand and removed the key with his other one. The creature dissolved into a puff of black smoke. Where the broken shell rested, a delicate white flower sprouted. Its petals unfurled, revealing a slip of parchment.

  Diva’s eyes glistened. “A flower. The land has begun to heal.”

  Overhead, Lamia roared, shaking the trees with a rush of wind from her wings. Flames shot out of her three heads, scorching the rocks not far from them. Her golden scales glowed like the fire she breathed.

  Pavel yelled, “Run!” but froze in place, his eyes glued to the sky.

  “Hurry, Theo!” Diva said as she grabbed Pavel’s arm and pulled him down the path.

  Theo snatched the slip of paper from the flower. He shoved it and the key into his pocket. As fire laced the sky, he raced down the path behind the others. Boo shot out of the cave and zipped past them. Theo’s foot throbbed, and he stumbled, slamming into a tree. He groaned and pulled himself up.

  “Diva? Pavel?” The roar overhead drowned out his words.

  A streak of light blinded him. Fire blasted the tree he leaned against. Above him, branches sputtered. A whoosh of hot air ignited them, making the already brittle wood burst into flames. Screaming, Theo covered his head as sizzling limbs crashed around him, and noxious smoke smothered him.

  “Theo!” Diva’s voice broke through during a lull. “Get to the glen!”

  He dropped to his knees and crawled toward her voice.

  The ground shook. Had Lamia landed by the nest? Theo crawled faster.

  An avalanche of rocks tumbled down the crag, crashing into bushes and trees. He crept behind a massive trunk out of their reach. A deafening roar drowned out all other sounds.

  His heart raced. The dragon must have found the egg shell shattered and her soul missing! No time to worry about rocks hitting him or his aching leg, Theo stumbled toward the glen.

  The giants-turned-trees were just ahead. Diva was there. And Pavel. Boo. Theo crashed through bushes and landed in a heap on the mossy ground. He let the pain in his twisted ankle overtake him. Lamia couldn’t reach him now. The Ispolini magic would protect him from her.

  They huddled together, with Boo lying next to Theo, until the wind stilled and the sky brightened. The stench of burned trees clung to the air.

  “Are you okay?” Diva leaned over Theo. Pavel, his face pale and dirty, hovered behind her.

  “I’m ...” His voice rasped as he sat up. He nodded.

  Pavel dropped to the ground next to Theo. “Lamia was one scary creature. I don’t want to do that again.”

  “We’re going to have to. We have only one soul. Still two to go,” Diva said. “Now that Lamia knows we’re after her souls, she’ll make it more difficult to get them.”

  “You think that was easy?” Pavel’s voice squeaked.

  “We can’t do anything until we know where the next one is,” Theo said. “Let’s hope the clue helps us.”

  He removed the paper and key from his pocket. A dragon with spread wings adorned the top of the key, while its tail curled around the stem. In the center of its belly shone a ruby. Maybe the clue explained what it was for. He squinted at the words.

  Shaking his head, he handed it to Diva. “Can you read this? It looks like it’s written in the same language as the map.”

  Diva took the scrap and read it: “ ‘Within inky depths lies my mate. An enchantress’ song brings men a watery death; an enchanter’s tune holds sway.’ ”

  Theo stared at the parchment. “Nature gives us a riddle? Why couldn’t she tell us where the next soul was? What does it mean?”

  “Learning and figuring things out will make you stronger,” Diva said. “My sister always said, ‘If you let people lead you throughout life, you’re only a puppet. To be a true hero, you have to take charge.’ ”

  Take charge? Theo sighed inwardly. He’d been relying on Diva to help him. He had to find a way to be stronger, braver. He rubbed the back of his neck. He could start with trying to figure out the meaning of the riddle. “Inky depths. Enchantress’ song. Watery death. Enchanter’s tune.” What was the connection?

  “Depths, song, death, tune,” he repeated, closing his eyes and letting thoughts soak into his brain. “Rusalki? Tales tell how they seduce sailors with their songs and lure them to their deaths in the sea.”

  “That would be my guess.” Diva pulled out her map. “Let’s go to Rusalki Bay and see what they have to say.”

  “Rusalki?” Pavel peered at the map. “They’re here, too? Where? I bet they’re not as pretty or as awesome as Samodivi. You can change into a falcon.”

  Diva rolled her eyes. “You should be careful around them. They’re not frivolous creatures who sing and comb their hair, while admiring their beauty in mirrors. Some of them hate men ... even boys.”

  “Old people in Selo think they killed my father,” Theo added.

  “Sounds like them.” Diva nodded. “They have good traits, though. Once a year, they change their tails into legs and go to your world to heal humans and dance to bring rain so plants grow.”

  “Do you think they’ll help?” Pavel asked.

  Diva shrugged. “A couple of weeks ago, during Rusalnaya nedelja, when Rusalki are most dangerous, I would have said no.”

  Grandma had visited in early June during Rusalka Week and hung white linen, a cross, incense, and garlic on the willow tree outside Theo’s and Nia’s bedroom windows. It was supposed to make the Rusalki harmless.

  “We have a better chance now,” she continued, “if they’re around. I don’t know if Lamia captured or harmed them.”

  Theo peered at the map where the dragon tail curled around a cove. “Is that Rusalki Bay?”

  “Yes. This is where we are now.” Diva pointed to a place at the bottom of the map, not far from the mill where they had stayed. “We have two choices. One path winds around the coast, but it’s longer.” She trailed her finger northeast along the route. “The other is shorter and goes through the Forest of Souls. The only problem is the map has a hole burned in that section. I don’t know what’s between us and the forest.”

  Theo studied both routes. “The coastal one looks ten times longer. Let’s take the shorter one and hope for the best. We need to hurry and rescue Nia.”

  “Time to hit the road,” Pavel said, his eyes shining. “I want to see those Rusalki.”

  Theo shook his head. Pavel had gone from disbelieving in mythological creatures, to being completely enchanted by them, at least the pretty ones.

  “Boo, ride on me,” Diva said, and the magpie flew to her shoulder.

  Theo and Pavel strapped on their backpacks and rambled down the trail. Diva raced ahead, jumping from one bush to another as she collected berries.

  Pavel kept twisting his head, keeping her in view. “Wow, she’s wild like her name implies.”

  “You’ve seen nothing yet.” Theo grinned, wondering what Pavel would do if he saw Diva’s wolf form.

  Diva stopped ahead of them, then zipped back to Theo’
s side. “Houston, we have a problem. Isn’t that the expression you used back at the marsh?”

  “Yes, because the bridge had fallen apart.”

  “We have that—and more of an issue this time.”

  Theo sighed. “What now?”

  “This.” She pointed to a rickety bridge spanning a deep chasm.

  Theo stared at the frayed ropes swaying in the breeze. Yawning gaps stretched across the bridge where wooden slats had broken and fallen into the ravine. “How will we get across?”

  “Sour pickle juice.” Pavel tapped the side of his glasses. “I have the perfect invention at home, but it was too large to carry.”

  “Too bad your rope’s not longer,” Diva said. “I could fly over and tie it around a trunk on both sides.”

  “We’ll have to find something else.” Theo studied the trees. “Diva, a picture in your book showed kids swinging on ivy. Do you think we could secure the bridge with vine ropes?”

  “Perfect. They’re durable when you weave three together.” Diva’s voice softened, and she turned her back to them. “My sister would sing while I flew on the vines like a bird.”

  “Let’s collect ivy. It’s better than turning around and taking the looong road,” Pavel said. “My legs are already killing me.”

  Diva got her knife from the sheath at her side.

  Pavel pulled a knife out of his bag of endless gadgets and handed it to Theo. “I’ll use the one in my Paveltron.”

  When they’d collected several vines, they wove long ropes. Using two for the outside edges, they crisscrossed others between them to form places to step. Two vine ropes remained.

  “Look at how it’s swaying in the middle,” Pavel said. “We should use the last ones as a guard rail to hold onto.”

  “Good point.” Diva smiled at him.

  She tied one end of the new bridge and guardrails around a thick tree trunk. Twirling, she changed into a falcon. She snatched the other end with her talons and flew over the chasm, dropping the ivy bridge over the wooden one.

  Pavel spoke with a soft voice. “She truly is amazing.”