The Unborn Hero of Dragon Village

by Ronesa Aveela

  “Eww,” Pavel said as he reached the others and hobbled in. “Now it smells like a thousand sweaty badgers who’ve wet themselves.”

  Theo bumped into metal bars against a wall. Something from the other side reached out and grabbed his ankle.

  Chapter 21

  Dark and Dingy Dungeon

  Theo whipped around to face his attacker. The clawed hand released its grasp on his leg and disappeared into the cell’s dark shadows, but ragged breathing and moans revealed the creature’s location.

  “Jega, bring your torch over here,” Theo whispered.

  The Kuker shone his light through the metal bars. Water seeped down walls covered with moldy growth. Insects skittered across the floor, disappearing into cracks. Near the bars, a bony hand lay stretched out, clicking its black nails through the filth covering the stone floor. The hand pulled a pile of rags closer to Theo and Jega, reaching out once again.

  “Help,” the voice rasped. “Food. Water.”

  Jega handed the torch to Theo. “Here, hold this.” He crouched by the bars and placed his container of water to the person’s lips. “Small sips only, or you’ll toss it back up.”

  Theo sat on his heels next to Jega. Scarcely more than a skeleton, the woman—although he wasn’t sure the person was female—licked drops of the precious liquid from dry, cracked lips. Thin skin barely covered her bones, and her matted hair dragged in the grime along the cell floor.

  Other captives lay sprawled on the floor in surrounding cells. Grunts and groans escaped their lips, but the people remained still, only their haunting eyes stared at Theo and his friends. How many would survive before they could be freed? Theo’s hatred of Lamia intensified.

  He placed a hand over the woman’s cold claw-like hands. “Who are you?”

  “I’m ...” Sobs shook her body. “I don’t remember. Soldiers took me from my family to work in the mines. When I collapsed, they tossed me in here to rot.”

  “We’ll get you out,” Theo said, “but first we have to defeat Lamia. Do you know how we can find her?”

  “No, but Zachary does.” The woman trembled. “He was once a guard. No one knows what he did to be sent here.”

  Zima came over. “Tell us how to find this Zachary.”

  The woman scratched at the floor, sliding onto her elbows to lift herself. With dark, hollow eyes, she stared at Zima. She slid back to the floor, her head making a slight thump as if she was too weak to hold it up. Raising her eyes, she brought her gaze to Theo.

  “Please tell us if you know,” he said, his voice soft with compassion.

  “Be careful of Zachary,” she said with a gravelly voice. “I don’t know if he can be trusted.”

  “We will,” Theo assured her.

  The woman reached inside her threadbare clothing and withdrew a white rat. Its pink nose poked out of her hand.

  She whispered into its ear and set the rat on the floor. “My friend will take you to Zachary, but please send him back. He gets food for me.”

  “We’ll make sure your friend returns.” Diva sliced a water fruit and handed a piece to the woman. “Here, eat this slowly.”

  “Bless you, child.” The woman touched Diva’s hand. “May the Goddess protect you and your sisters.”

  “What of our brothers? Tall men like us,” Jega asked. “Do you know of them?”

  She nodded. “I’ve seen them in the mines.”

  “The mines.” Zima paced. “Few survive there.”

  Jega said, “They’re stronger than most. I’m sure they’re okay.”

  Theo squeezed the woman’s hand. “Thank you.”

  The rat wiggled its nose in the air and scuttled across the floor toward a set of stone stairs leading upward. Everyone but Theo followed.

  “I knew you would come,” the woman whispered to him. “You have magnificent wings.”

  “What?” Theo dropped her hand and raised his arm, feeling the bumps. No change from before. “There’s nothing there.”

  She stared at him as if looking through him. “So beautiful.”

  “Come on, Theo,” Pavel called to him, “before our guide disappears.”

  Theo stood and ran after the others, unsure what to make of the woman’s remarks.

  The rat scurried from step to step, and skirted down corridors, until it led them outside a massive torch-lit room filled with prisoners chained to the stone walls. The rodent squeaked at Theo’s feet, placing its tiny paws against his ankles, before it hurried back the way it had come.

  Theo stared into the center of the room at a device like two vertical beds of nails facing each other. Dried blood coated a crank on the side, and gore hung from the nails. He backed away, wanting to vomit and erase the sight from his vision. That must be like the device Lamia used to kill Jabalaka’s ancestor. He fortified himself with the little courage he felt and stepped into the room.

  “Help me!” reverberated around the room as prisoners rattled their chains.

  A loud clang came from a darkened corner, where a husky voice yelled, “Quiet, yer fools! Let the intruders tell us why they’re here.”

  Theo approached and waved the torch where the voice came from. An elderly man wore a dark eye patch and a filthy, torn garment. One hand was chained to the wall at shoulder level. Grime coated his hair and beard that once may have been blond, but now were a dark brown.

  “Can you tell us where Zachary is?” Theo asked.

  The man spat to the side. “What do yer want with that trash?”

  Zima pointed his spear at the man. “Talk if you know, but don’t waste our time if you don’t.”

  “A woman in the cell below said Zachary could help us find Lamia,” Jega added.

  “Wouldn’t trust that witch.” The man spat again. “Batty. Can’t even remember me, her own son.”

  Zima thrust the spear closer to the man’s chest. “Tell us where to find the man we’re looking for.”

  “Zachary at yer service.” The man mock-bowed. “Yer ain’t gonna defeat Lamia if that’s yer intent. She’ll put yer right here with me, or worse, with my ole witch of a mother. At least we get fed slop once a day.”

  “Can you tell us how to find Lamia?” Theo asked.

  The man sneered. “If I tell yer, I’ll be sent to the mines.”

  “You won’t,” Theo said. “I’m going to destroy her.”

  The man choked, as he spluttered, “Yer gonna save us? A babe still suckling milk from yer mother.”

  Diva pushed Zachary against the wall. “You worthless scum. Theo’s the unborn hero. He will defeat Lamia.”

  Fire blazed in Zachary’s eyes. “Legends lie. Why do you think I’m here? A prophecy said I’d save my family, yet look where I am now. Who are yer, anyway?”

  “I’m Diva, a Samodiva.”

  “Samodiva?” He smirked. “Yer lie. Lamia’s got ’em all in cells locked with magic so they can’t escape.”

  “Lie? Samodivi never lie!” Diva’s eyes became wild. She slipped off her pouch and quiver and handed them and her bow to Pavel. “Try this lie!”

  She clutched the feather-and-claw talisman and twirled three times. A white, snarling wolf bristled and bared her teeth in Zachary’s face.

  “What the heck!” Pavel scurried away, bumping into the wall. He stared at Diva and murmured, “I was right. Diva is awesome as a wolf.”

  Zachary pressed his back against the wall. “I believe yer! Don’t kill me! I’ll tell yer what yer want to know.”

  Diva got in one more growl before turning back to a Samodiva. “Well?”

  “When Lamia’s in the castle, servant girls take care of her in the ballroom.”

  Zima stepped closer. “How do we find her in this maze?”

  Zachary gulped. “Every evening someone hauls the spoiled food here on a cart. They send the empty barrels back to the kitchen to be refilled. Hide in ’em, so they’ll carry yer back when they return. Once yer in the courtyard, follow the girls dressed in white. They’ll lead yer to the drag
on.”

  “When’s feeding time?” Zima asked.

  “Any time now, but yer won’t fit. Only the little ones.”

  “What about my sisters?” Diva asked. “Where are they?”

  “And our brothers?” Zima and Jega said in unison.

  Theo added, “And my sister?”

  “I don’t know. The prison has so many tunnels with cells on every level, straight down to the heart of the earth. It’s as hot as Hades there. Fire spurts out where prisoners pull precious gems and gold from the earth’s womb. Yer better hope yer sisters and brothers ain’t there.”

  “My sisters won’t be. They could escape if they weren’t in a magic cell,” Diva said.

  “No one escapes,” Zachary whispered. “Any that try are tossed off the highest rock on Cherna Mountain. I oughta know. I usta have that duty.”

  “Why are you here?” Jega asked.

  “I tried to help that witch called my mother!” Zachary spat out.

  “Enough of this filth’s sob story,” Zima said. “Who’s ready to breach the castle?”

  “Diva and I will go in the cart,” Theo said. “Zima, you and Jega can use your powers to blast open the cells if the keys don’t work.”

  Zima thumped his fist against the wall. “I didn’t come here to be safe. I want to fight.”

  “Brother, our task is important,” Jega said. “We have to find and release our brothers and the Samodivi. We’ll need all the help we can to fight the dragon.”

  Anger drained from Zima’s face, and he gave a short nod.

  “Pavel, will you keep an eye on Boo?” Theo asked.

  Pavel let out a deep sigh, then nodded. “I’ll babysit, but we’re coming to find you when we’re done here.”

  Zima said, “We’re all agreed. Be careful.”

  “Free us!” prisoners yelled, clanging their chains against the walls as the Kukeri started to leave.

  “Quiet, yer fools,” Zachary yelled. “Let them do what they have to do first. Yer all will die if they let you out now.”

  The prisoners grumbled when the Kukeri, Pavel, and Boo left to explore the other cells.

  Not long after, a key clinked in a massive wooden door.

  Theo and Diva scrambled to hide in the shadows near Zachary. The hinges creaked, and the door thudded against the stone wall. A squat creature, wrinkled and hunched over like an old man, prodded two black buffalos with a pointed stick. The beasts pulled a covered cart and huffed as the wheels clunked over the uneven stone floor. They stopped by one wall of silent prisoners, all with eyes intent upon the slop.

  The creature sniffed the air and scratched one of its stiff, wing-like ears. It rolled its shoulders and dragged the first barrel from the cart with its clawed hands. Hissing and grumbling, it dumped the putrid contents onto the floor and pushed them toward the chained men with a shovel. The prisoners crouched low, reaching for their meal with their free hands to grab what they could.

  Every once in a while, the creature stuck a twiggy arm into the barrel and pulled out a morsel. It furtively glanced around the room with orange, cat-like eyes. Theo almost gagged as the creature’s long, pointed teeth tore into what it must have considered a delicacy.

  The creature emptied the first barrel and dragged it back to the cart, hefting it easily considering his short stature. It covered the top with a black canvas lid and removed a second barrel that it dragged to the next wall of prisoners.

  While the creature’s back was turned, Theo and Diva climbed onto the cart. Theo lifted the top and, making a sour face, slipped into the barrel. Missed chunks of rotten meat oozed down the sides, covered with brown slime. Diva crouched next to him after she replaced the lid. Theo’s knees pressed against hers. He clutched his backpack in his lap, and his bow and quiver lay snug at his side. Adding Diva’s weapons to the mix squashed them so he barely had room to move.

  The enclosed area muffled sounds, and the heat intensified the smell of rotten food. Theo covered his nose and mouth so he wouldn’t vomit. The confined quarters made the smell unbearable. It didn’t seem to faze Diva, as her breathing remained steady.

  A short while later, the second barrel thudded next to the one they had hidden in. The cart rocked as they left the prison room. Theo lifted the cover, but Diva yanked him down.

  “It might not be safe,” she whispered.

  “I don’t care. I can’t breathe in here.”

  He poked his head out of the barrel and gulped clean air. “We’re outside,” he whispered. “Wasn’t the dungeon in the castle?”

  “I’m sure it’s easier to bring a cart to the dungeon’s lower entrance, rather than taking it down corridors and steps.” Diva pulled him back into the barrel. “You’ll have to bear the stench, or we’ll get caught.”

  Theo replaced the cover and crouched in the confined space. His stomach churned, not only from the smell, but also from the impending battle with Lamia—if they made it that far. Since he’d destroyed her three souls, she most likely would have beefed up her guards—or did she even need them? He had no plan for how to defeat her, except shooting her with the silver arrow. He squeezed his eyes shut.

  They were doomed to fail.

  No! They’d come so far. They couldn’t fail now. His father and mother hadn’t backed down from Lamia. He had powerful friends to help him. They had to win. Too many people depended on their success: Nia, his mother in Selo, Zmey, the Samodivi, the Kukeri, Jabalaka, and all of Dragon Village.

  The cart jolted to a stop, and he opened his eyes. The front seat creaked, and rocks crackled as the creature stepped out. It mumbled something, and someone else mumbled back. The cart moved again and thumped over something, then continued on, coming to a stop again.

  They remained inside until all was quiet.

  Theo whispered, “Let’s get out of here.”

  He crawled from the barrel and peered into a stable. Flies buzzed over him. He shooed them away. The two buffalos that had pulled the cart slurped from a water-filled trough. Five hay-filled stalls lined up against the far wall.

  Theo crept around the building, looking through cracks in the walls. Outside, the moon shone on a girl, who had her arms wrapped around a bucket almost as tall as she was. Her dark hair hung over her face as she took tiny steps toward the stable. She leaned back and cocked her head as far away from its contents as possible. Liquid sloshed over the rim, coating her fingers, and she scowled. The bucket edged its way down her grasp until she almost dragged it along the ground.

  A scrawny cat darted closer, slinking around the girl’s ankles.

  “Scat, you’ll make me—” The girl tumbled over the bucket. Bones, thick globs of oozing liquid, and chunks of unknown items spilled out. She landed face down in the middle of the slop. The girl pushed her hair aside and looked up.

  “It’s Nia!” Theo burst from the stable, rushed to the weeping girl, and grasped her shoulder. “You’re alive.”

  She looked up. The girl wasn’t Nia.

  Her face paled, and she screamed, “Don’t beat me! I won’t spill it again.”

  Diva zipped outside, clamped her hand over the girl’s mouth, and dragged her inside the stable. Theo ran after them.

  He kneeled by the girl and spoke softly, “I’m Theo, and my friend is Diva. What’s your name?”

  Diva slowly removed her hand from the girl’s mouth.

  With downcast eyes, the girl whispered, “Vela.”

  Theo raised her chin. “We’re not going to beat you. Why would we do that?”

  “I spilled the slop.” Vela whimpered. “The cook threatened to feed me to the prisoners if I did it again.”

  Diva turned Vela’s face toward her. “We’ll help you put it back into the bucket, but we need your help, too.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Finding my sister,” Theo said.

  Vela hesitated, looking from Theo to Diva. “You’ll put my slop back if I do?”

  “I’ll do it now.” Theo grabbed a shovel, peered out
the door, and ran to where Vela had dropped the bucket. He scooped up what he could of the mess, brought the bucket into the stable, and dumped it into the barrel he and Diva had hidden in.

  A bit of color returned to Vela’s face. “You can’t go in smelling like that, or you’d never be able to hide. Wash in the trough.”

  Theo picked up what looked like a brush to groom horses and handed another to Diva. The buffalos grunted as Theo dip the brush into the water. Theo and Diva scrubbed their clothes until they were soaked.

  “We have to get out of here before anyone finds you.” Vela opened the stable door and peered out. “It’s clear.”

  Theo and Diva followed her into the castle. Voices echoed down a hallway.

  “Quick, in here.” Vela darted into a room.

  Theo slipped in after her, with Diva behind him. Muffled voices and clinking pots came from beyond another door on the other side of the room. Theo breathed deep the aroma of spices and roasting game, and his stomach grumbled.

  “I’d like to eat a baked potato and pheasant right now.”

  “How can you think about food?” Diva asked.

  “I’m tired of fruit and nuts and all those other things you find in the forest.”

  Diva scowled. “They’ve kept you alive.”

  “Shh. Someone’s coming,” Vela said. “Hide behind those crates.”

  Light streamed in from the open door, along with a rush of cooking smells: fresh bread, cakes, and cocoa.

  “Vela,” a voice familiar to Theo said. “What are you doing here? Another slop bucket’s ready for the prisoner’s cart.”

  Theo’s heart raced as he peeked through a crack between the crates to look at the girl standing in the kitchen doorway. “It’s Nia,” he whispered. “I have to get her out of here.”

  “Shh.” Diva clasped her hand over his mouth. “Something’s not right.”

  Vela lowered her head to Nia. “The cook wanted more herbs for her stew.”

  “Don’t dally or she’ll add you to it.” Nia laughed. “Since you’re here, get Lamia’s cocoa powder and bring it to her chambers for me.”

  “Her chambers?” Vela’s voice squeaked.

  “Don’t worry.” Nia leaned in closer. “I won’t tell her you were there.”