Dragon's Fire

by Bri Sailor

  The warrior was neck and neck with the prince, neither giving way to let the other lead. Smoke curled over the horizon as the stronghold came into view. The main gate was wide open and there wasn’t a single guard in sight. The hairs raised on the back of Ky’s neck. She looked over at the prince who was just as wary. The legions of soldiers slowed as they approached the gate. Bodies of fallen soldiers and civilians alike littered the ground. Some distance away the clashing of steel and yelling could be heard. Ehren turned in the direction of the fighting. They weaved in and out of the narrow streets until tight passageways opened up into the sprawling grounds that was the prison. What was left of the combatants were still fighting. Ehren held up his arm signaling for his troops to hold their position. He then pointed to a rider who then sounded a long blast from his ram’s horn. The fighting ceased, everyone was stunned to see their small space now invaded by nearly two hundred mounted soldiers wearing purple and yellow and carrying the royal banners. Ehren puffed out his chest.

  “By order of Queen Joslette, the rightful heir to the throne and true leader of the Quinmor kingdom, you are all to lower your weapons and return control of this city.” He boomed. “Those that will not submit to the crown will be subject to her loyal legions.”

  One by one their weapons were dropped. Horgath’s men and Black soldiers eyed each other.

  “Praise to the Goddess!” shouted one of the former prisoners.

  “Long live Queen Joslette!” yelled a civilian.

  Cheers and praises were lifted up to the sky. The soldiers stood around looking dejected. A small female fighter covered in blood and grime pushed her way to the prince.

  “And who are you to be proclaiming such things?” she growled.

  Ehren narrowed his eyes at her. “I am Ehren, Prince of Aznurro, and emissary of your Queen.”

  The warrior crossed her arms. “Fine. Prince Ehren. I am Kova, leader of this rebellion and others like it. The city is yours, provided you pardon all prisoners here and allow me to go freely.”

  The prince looked at Ky with a raised eyebrow. The warrior returned the look.

  “By the power of her royal Highness, the Queen, all who had been imprisoned are now pardoned.” Bellowed Ky.

  More cheers erupted. Kova unflinchingly stared Ky dead in the eye. The general could tell that rebel recognized her now.

  “And what of me?” challenged Kova. “Am I free as well? Or am I to be dragged off to your owner, General? Has Ultrek finally gotten tired of trying to breach my stronghold and now must rely on dirty underhanded tricks to get his way?”

  Ky clenched her jaw. “You would do well to hold your tongue, rebel. You speak of matters that you know nothing of. I serve no one but myself.”

  “So the dog has no master now?” Quipped the woman.

  Ky squared her shoulders and stared her down. “Despite our past, we now seem to have a common enemy. King Ultrek is no longer the greatest threat to this world, but his witch, Lusha. She is the true power behind everything. She serves no one but herself.”

  Kova widened her stance and stood her ground. “We shall see. And what do you want from me?”

  Ehren spoke up. “We have been sent on a mission to acquire very ancient, very powerful relics that can be used to stop the witch once and for all.”

  “Why should I care?” she shrugged.

  “Because if we don’t find those crystals and put an end to this evil, it will overtake everything we know and love.” Stated an impassioned Atreyis. “There will be no stronghold to return to. You and your people, all of us, will be wiped away like dust.”

  “You know your lands better than anyone.” Added Ehren. “You must know of such an object.”

  Kova picked at her nails seemingly without a care. “What’s in it for me?”

  “A chance to return peace to your lands and drive out the Black Army once and for all.” Tempted Ky.

  The rebel’s ears perked up and a sly smile spread across her face. “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Chapter 18

  With the city back under the queen’s control, the Quinmor soldiers began helping the citizens of Incta clean up after their bloody rebellion. What soldiers remained that were Horgath’s men or Black Army were thrown into the prison. Ehren and his friends, now joined by the rebel Kova, found a large inn and had settled down for the night. They sat by the fire and filled their bellies with mead and a hot meal. They gave the inn’s owners a king’s ransom for their room and board in an effort to show the graciousness that was extended by the queen. The nearly fully healed Vex and Cora had joined them a short while ago. Ky and Vex greeted each other with strong hugs.

  Vex gripped Ky’s shoulders. “You have no idea how blessed I feel. To see you standing before me right now. It almost seems like a dream.”

  Ky playfully tapped his cheek. “Trust me, you are awake. It is I who must be dreaming.”

  The man shook his head as a single tear fell. “I had heard that Lusha had…that she had…”

  The warrior grew serious. “That witch barely laid a finger on me. It was I who nearly killed her.”

  Ehren cleared his throat.

  “With the help of my new friends.” She rolled her eyes and half smiled.

  “You did?” Vex’s eyes grew wide.

  “Had she not cheated and used her black magic, this war would all be but over right now.” Said Atreyis proudly.

  “Agreed.” Added Riker. “With Ky aligning herself with us, the enemy, and with his witch dead, King Ultrek wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.”

  He smiled impishly and raised his mug before downing the contents.

  “I would not be so celebratory, my friend.” Vex’s face hardened as he looked at Ky. “I don’t know what happened between you and Lusha at Stone Shield, but if what I witnessed is any indication as to her power. It truly is by some miracle that you all are still alive.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Ky.

  Vex took a deep breath and sighed heavily. “Over the last couple of years I have been building an army of my own. Mostly of Black Army deserters and those that wished to see the end of this pointless war. When I found out that Óhn was devoid of the majority of Ultrek’s forces, I decided that it was time to reclaim the city. Hit them where it would hurt the most. After my scouts reported back to me I decided to take a thousand of my men and storm the gates. We were met with no resistance until we reached the palace. It was there that she suddenly appeared to try and stop us. Just as I was about to attack she disappeared into thin air. Her voice thundered all around us from the palace, challenging me to attack.”

  “You didn’t.” said Ky.

  “What do you think?” he replied solemnly. “I was blinded by my hatred. Foolishly, I charged headlong into her trap.”

  The melancholy soldier searched his friend’s eyes. “She appeared and snapped Ultrek’s neck right before my eyes.”

  The room was deathly silent. Ky’s mouth went dry and she felt like she had been punched in the stomach.

  “How…how did she…” she stammered.

  “I don’t know.” Vex was visibly upset. “She had one of her priests perform a marriage ceremony then crowned herself queen. Ultrek appeared to be under some sort of spell the entire time. Once she proclaimed herself ruler, she used to powers to raise the king before all of us and then snapped his neck and dropped his body from the balcony. Before I could even take a step to attack her…I don’t know. She had placed the entire palace in a barrier so no one could escape. The next thing I knew I was imprisoned in some dungeon before I was brought here. Apparently, I was selected especially by her top torturers as their pet project.”

  “Vex…” Ky’s eyes welled up.

  He hugged his friend close. “I gave them nothing. They wanted to know how many men I had and where they were.”

  Ky took a step back. “Well you’re free now. And safe. But we could use you and your men. We have a mission to complete. One that should put an end to the witch.
”

  Vex shook his head. “I’m sorry but I can’t. I wish everything that I could join you, but nearly two hundred of my men are still trapped in the palace. I pray to the Goddess that they are still alive. I must save them. They swore their lives to me, and I owe them.”

  “I understand.” Said the warrior.

  Ehren sat tapping his foot. His brow was furrowed in thought.

  “That might be for the best.” He thought aloud. “Hear me out. If we are able to get Kova back to her people, we could reignite the fighting between them and the Black Army. That would draw Lusha’s attention for sure. Vex could then take the city—’’

  “Which means he could uncover the location of the crystal.” Exclaimed Cora suddenly.

  She locked eyes with Vex. “We are searching for four crystal shards that have been left by the Goddess herself as a way to defeat Lusha. We already have two of them. If we combine our forces and each of us goes after one, then we will be that much closer to ending all of this madness.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Said Taryn.

  Vex shrugged it off. “I’m not so sure. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  “Are there any priests left that aren’t loyal to Lusha?” asked Cora. “One of them might be able to tell you. In the Aznurro priesthood this necklace was passed down by high priestesses over the ages.” She held up her necklace. “This is the first piece, and it was right there all along.”

  He sighed. “If there are any priests left, they would be in hiding by now.”

  “You have to try.” Pleaded Atreyis. “This is the only way this war will end.”

  Ky looked over her shoulder at the princess. “One of the ways it will end.”

  Vex stood in silence, unmoving, thinking. All eyes were on him. He rubbed his face.

  “I can’t guarantee anything. But I can at least try.”

  Cora looked relieved. “That’s all we can ask. I thank you, Vex.”

  Riker yawned and stretched. “It’s been a long day. I say we’ve earned a good night’s sleep.”

  Atreyis yawned as well. “I agree.”

  In another lifetime the inn had been a bunkhouse for migrant workers and soldiers alike. The room was large enough that it could easily and comfortably fit ten beds. Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed as a storm raged outside. Everyone was sleeping soundly in their warm beds except the princess. Atreyis lay quietly staring at the ceiling cracks. She kept replaying what had happened with Horgath over and over. Watching Ky’s hands turn into scaly, sharp claws. The blood dripping from her arms. Lightning flashed outside the window to her left. A shadow moved on the ceiling. Atreyis’ heart began to pound out of her chest as adrenaline hit her veins. She sat straight up. There across from her standing in front of Ky’s bed was a dark figure. Above its head was a long dagger. Thunder crashed outside. The figure twitched. In a flash a blue-eyed Atreyis launched herself at the assassin. She knocked the dagger from his hands. His eyes turned purple as he connected with her jaw, sending her stumbling back a few feet. The sound of the scuffle woke the entire room. Before anyone could act Atreyis charged at the man and tackled him. They crashed through the window and wall and fell almost twenty feet down to the ground. Ky raced to the gaping hole.

  “Atreyis!” she screamed.

  Down below the princess didn’t hear a thing above the roar of the storm. The two combatants didn’t even seem to notice the steady downpour as they continued to fight. The assassin had pulled out a hidden blade and was swinging wildly. Ky and Ehren grabbed their swords and jumped out of the window. Atreyis had managed to knock the man to the ground and was sitting on top of him, beating him to a bloody pulp. In a final burst of rage she grabbed him by the shirt and head-butted him.

  “Enough!” yelled Ehren.

  The princess ignored him. Ky grabbed the scruff of her neck and pulled her off of the assassin.

  “Stop!” yelled Ky. “We need him alive!”

  Rain poured on the princess’ head washing away the blood. Her chest was heaving with every breath and her eyes were glowing brightly. She wiped the blood trickling from her nose and stopped, the skin was rough. She looked at her hands. They had morphed into the same scaly, sharp claws that Ky’s had. Ky reached for her hands and studied them. Had her own looked this evil? This deadly?

  “We need to get him inside.” Shouted Ehren.

  With her hands still like claws, Atreyis pushed past both Ky and Ehren and grabbed the man by his clothes and dragged him into the inn. She was met by the horrified faces of her friends.

  “What happened?” asked Cora.

  “That’s what I want to know.” Growled Atreyis, something was nagging in the back of her mind, something about the man seemed familiar.

  She picked up the man with ease and tossed him into a chair. Ky stepped inside.

  “Someone get some rope. He’ll be awake soon.” She ordered.

  Riker scrambled to find some. He returned after a few moments and tied the man up. Cora and Taryn were studying Atreyis’ hands.

  “What does this mean?” asked Taryn, unable to hide the worry in her voice.

  “I—I’m not sure.” Replied Cora. “Could this be…”

  “It happened to Ky.” Said Atreyis in a low voice.

  Cora just stared at her.

  “When we were going after Horgath. He tried to attack me but Ky got to him first.” Atreyis said flatly. “She killed him with her bare…claws…”

  While everyone was distracted by Atreyis’ newfound form, Ky stood staring menacingly at the unconscious assassin in the chair. She tapped her foot out of frustration. He wasn’t waking up fast enough. She took one step forward and slapped him hard across the face, the sound making everyone jump. Slowly, the man’s head lolled back and forth. Ky grabbed a handful of his hair and held up his head.

  “Who sent you?” she yelled.

  He merely groaned in response.

  She wrenched his head back. “Who sent you?”

  The man started to chuckle evilly and gasped from the pain of his broken ribs.

  “You…should…know…” he painfully laughed.

  Ehren strode up to him and grabbed his face.

  “Who sent you? Who are you after?” he growled, his eyes turning blue.

  “Heh heh. Ever the gallant Aznurro prince aren’t you?” the man spat blood on the floor. “I’ve been sent orders from beyond this realm. ‘If they are found alive, Queen Lusha shall end them. Dead or alive, Her Majesty does not care, but untold riches await those that are able.’ I have been watching you since you left your lands.” The man’s eyes changed and his voice dropped. “We have been watching you. You will free our brothers and sisters.”

  The assassin laughed evilly. Atreyis had heard enough. She stormed up to him and wrapped a hand around his throat and began to squeeze.

  “You’re lying.” She growled. “I saw you. You were only going after Ky. You could have silently gotten rid of all of us, but you only went after her. Why?”

  The man’s demeanor changed. He oozed pure evil. He laughed maniacally. “You think way too highly of yourselves, as does the witch. You and your brother were to be retrieved as ordered, but the Dark Priests have been watching over events. They aim to finish where Lusha failed at Stone Shield!”

  Atreyis squeezed tighter. “How many more of you are there?”

  He stared into her eyes, grinning like a madman. Atreyis suddenly realized why the man seemed so familiar.

  “Hundreds. Thousands. We will do our Lord’s bidding!”

  Ehren looked at Cora. “Who are the Dark Priests?”

  The priestess couldn’t even answer him. Her whole body was shaking violently. The assassin’s eyes began to glow purple again as he transfixed them on Ky.

  “Dih t’kë körër öx t’kë Rkiitë Drägör—’’ he hissed demonically.

  “What’s happening?” shouted Kova.

  Cora continued to quake. Ky suddenly fell under a trance, her eyes glowing red as she sta
red into his purple.

  “—ihöü ärë k’tiimë!”

  Atreyis flicked her wrist and snapped his neck before he could finish his incantation. A black mist twisted its way from out of the man’s nostrils and open mouth. It lingered in the air, hovering above everyone before vanishing out the door. They stared in horror at the priestess. Ky slowly came back around.

  “He—he…” stammered the priestess. “He tried to bind Ky to the White Dragon. He w-wasn’t just sent by Lusha o-or Horgath. He was one of t-theirs! The mist…the mist…”