The Clockwork Heart

by T Ariyanna

  Cy watched incredulously as Kaitlyn reprimanded him. When she finished, her face was bright red and her hands were balled into fists at her side. Dragon had woken up to glare at Cy as well, emphasizing Kaitlyn's threat.

  Cy cracked a smile, letting a short laugh slip through his lips. Kaitlyn's eyes narrowed further, and Cy burst into full chortles. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry,” he gasped. “You're scary, really! Terrifying even. It's just too much that you're yelling at me like you’re my mom!”

  Kaitlyn let out a sigh, and Cyllorian struggled to get control of himself. It seemed too much for her, and she broke into giggles as well.

  After a moment, she nudged Cy's foot. “Come on, we better get going. If they've been expecting us, we've already kept them waiting long enough.”

  Cy pushed himself onto his feet, still recovering from his laughing fit. “Yes, ma'am,” he muttered, following her to the path. She glared at him over her shoulder, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Cy coughed to cover his laughter as they climbed the mountain to face the mysterious Drakens.

  “He said it would only take an hour, right?” Kaitlyn called a few strides ahead of Cy. She paused a moment, catching her breath, and clung to the rope tied around her waist. She turned her head to look down, but thought better of the idea and faced forward. “How long have we been climbing anyway?”

  “I don't think it's been that long. But I think we've passed the cloud line. One day in that cave system made more progress than a week trying to climb! It can't be much further. Just keep going, we can rest when we get there,” Cy called back.

  Kaitlyn groaned, but pressed on. There was no energy left in her, though Cy had no idea where it all could have gone to. He was sure Arion had had more energy than this, but he had more experience exerting himself. Kaitlyn spent her childhood reading, not exercising.

  He watched intently at every slip of her hand, at the shaking of her legs with each step up. It was slow going, but he didn't dare ask her to go faster.

  He looked down below them. The air was thinner up here. A fog had settled around them, and he couldn't see the peak of the mountains anymore. It was impossible to tell just how high up the mountain they really were. He couldn't even see the landing where they had parted ways with Gil.

  Kaitlyn let out a small scream, and Cy whirled around. He had been climbing without thinking and had nearly caught up to Kaitlyn. While he had been climbing absentmindedly, they had reached their destination. And they had been greeted with a spear resting on Kaitlyn's collarbone.

  Her face had gone pale and her lip trembled, but her gaze burned as she stared into the bright red eyes of the Draken threatening her.

  The Draken was the complete opposite of the Droll. He had very defined muscles, and his skin was an ashy gray. His hair was white at the roots, darkening to look charred at the tips. Instead of freckles, the Draken's face was splotched with shiny black specks that could have either been burnt skin or scales. The only color to the Draken was in the fire of his eyes, and the vibrant white armor that covered him.

  “Up,” he growled in a rough voice from deep in his throat. He inched the spear away, and Kaitlyn pulled herself onto the ledge slowly. Cy followed, and was met with another spear prodding at the side of his neck when he came close to the edge. He hesitated for a split second before ascending the rest of the way. He raised his hands into the air, watching the Draken that held the spear from the corner of his eye. Now on level ground, they were surrounded by half a dozen Draken, each wearing a different color of polished armor.

  The first Draken severed the rope that bound Cy and Kaitlyn, and he heard Kaitlyn whimper. The Draken turned back to her, and she raised her hands as well.

  “Walk,” the second Draken said, jabbing the spear in Cy's back. It was clear this one was female by the curves in the armor that hugged the shape of her body, and large, colorful feathers sprung from the helmet that covered her face, setting her apart from the men. Cy felt the spear pierce the metal, a small prick in his armor. He grinned evilly at the gasp that came from the Draken. She stabbed at him again, and he walked forward.

  Kaitlyn was already following the first Draken, and he hurried to catch up with her. As quietly as he could, Cy whispered to her, “Whatever you do, don't let Gil know he was right.”

  Kaitlyn snorted and covered her laughter up with a cough. It seemed she couldn't stop coughing after forcing the first one, and she stopped walking to finish her fit. Cy moved to go to her, but the female raised her spear to him, and he backed off. In his confinement, he tried to gather his bearings of where they were.

  From what he could see, they had arrived at a plateau atop the mountains, completely devoid of snow. They had reached the flattened peak that marked the Drakens’ territory. A thin layer of smoke covered everything around them, and visible heat waves rose from the ground. The fog at their feet made it impossible to tell just how large this area was. In the distance, small buttes and mesas rose from the fog to surround them. Cy could almost make out what looked to be statues on a few of them before he was herded forward again. They were completely left in the open atop the mountain, and it made Cy worry.

  Kaitlyn had recovered from her coughing fit, but Cy could tell that her breathing was labored now. Sweat beaded her flushed face, and she was doing her best to remain calm.

  Cy readied himself to yell at the Drakens, but they stopped in place and turned on Cy and Kaitlyn. They pointed their spears at them, backing the two against each other.

  A wild roar rang throughout the air and Kaitlyn clapped her hands over her ears. Cy stared in horror as a swarm of shadows engulfed them from above, covering the mountain peak.

  Drakens jumped out from every direction, twelve of them now surrounding them with thick, curved blades and long spears. The smoke thickened around them, creating a small pocket of barely breathable air. Countless dragons slithered out of the smoke.

  The smallest of the dragons, barely larger than the Drakens, shared the same umber tone as the mountain, their scales dulled by the smoke. They crawled on four legs, their large, leathery wings outstretched to make them seem larger. Black, forked tongues shot out between pointed teeth, tasting the tension in the air. These dragons stayed on the outskirts of the plateau, while the larger dragons rested just behind the Drakens.

  It was easy to see now. Each Draken had their own dragon, and their armor was made from the scales of their companion. The Draken in charge, in the white armor, had a long, slender dragon. It stood on its hind legs, raising itself to nearly four times the height of the Draken. Feathered wings rested neatly at its side, the dragon being too thin to fit them on its back.

  One dragon was only as tall as its master, looking more like an insect than a dragon, with its translucent wings that stuck out from under a hard shell. It had six thin legs and it held itself close to the ground. Four red eyes shown against the dark brown skin that covered it, watching Cy and Kaitlyn hungrily.

  The female Draken from before lunged her spear toward Cyllorian, her two-limbed dragon snapping forward with its long neck. It was a dark yellow color, with red markings along its back and face. It moved gracefully at her side, curling around the Draken’s body protectively. As Cy stared on, the dragon shrunk, changing into a large python that slithered along its master’s arm. It crawled up her weapon to get as close at Cy as it could. It opened its jaws at him, as though it thought it could eat him whole.

  Cy looked around him at the other Drakens. Half of them were missing dragons, but instead had small creatures perched on them. These dragons aren’t normal. They can change into smaller creatures to stay with their Draken. Why didn’t Theresa ever tell me about this?

  Two twin Drakens had large birds with red and yellow feathers, with small beaks that curved into a sharp point, and silver claws that matched the armor they rested on. Another had a creature much like a ferret, but it had tan scales instead of fur. It had large, black eyes, and two pairs of thin wings that laid along its back.r />
  Cyllorian turned to look behind them, wanting to see what other creatures they might be up against, but the white armored Draken shoved his spear into Cy’s throat and prevented any movement.

  “Are there more of you?” the Draken demanded, using his weapon to draw Cy's attention from the dragons that were huffing thick black smoke from their nostrils.

  “No, it's just us. We come to…”

  “Silence!” the Draken yelled, and the angelic dragon curled around him roared as well. Its hot breath swelled around Cy and he fought against the urge to cough himself. “Outsiders are not welcome here. You will be exterminated.”

  “No, wait!” Cy yelled, leaning forward. As one, every Draken reared back to strike. They lunged forward, leaving no way to escape. Cy spun on his heels and grabbed Kaitlyn, trying to shield her from the attacks. Her pet lizard that rested in her pocket woke, and squirmed violently. It stopped moving almost instantly, as though it had disappeared completely. Cy was almost worried he’d killed the thing, but he had to save Kaitlyn first. As the blades rushed towards them, Kaitlyn screamed.

  A manic screech tore through Cy's ears, leaving a painful ringing in his head. He clung to Kaitlyn, awaiting the onslaught of slashes to his body. The ground quaked beneath him with the footsteps of something terrifying, the air growing thicker than he would have thought possible. Something brushed up against him, surrounding him, and he thought of the python. Are they letting their dragons have the first dibs?

  Readying himself for whatever reaction he might need, Cy opened his eyes. In front of them was a giant blue dragon, easily twice as large as any that belonged to the Draken here, its tail curling around his and Kaitlyn's feet. A double arrow of what looked like metal tipped the tail, and the claws that dug at the mountain looked to be made of the same. Though it was hunched down on all fours, it was clear that the dragon had wide paws with apposable thumbs, making them look more like hands. It waved its head all around them, hissing at the Draken with a purple forked tongue dripping venom. Its horned head was backed by a menacingly red hood. One bat-like wing was draped over Cy and Kaitlyn, blocking them from sight. Large sapphire eyes with thin pupils met Cy's, and he gasped.

  Murmurs were rising up from the Draken, and they slowly lowered their weapons. The dragon guarding them held its ground, eyeing the strangers with suspicion. Kaitlyn wriggled in Cy's grip, breaking free of his arms. She glanced up at Cy. There was something curious in her eyes that Cy couldn't place as she turned slowly to face their savior.

  She froze in fear at the creature in close proximity, stepping back into Cy’s grip. She was shaking violently, and she reached behind her to grab Cy’s hand. The dragon glanced back at them for just a second, his sharp gaze turned soft, before continuing to stare down their captors. It let out a low rumble in its throat, though it wasn’t a menacing sound like the shriek it had let lose before.

  Through the small gap under the dragon’s wing, he watched the Draken shift about uncomfortably. Nearly all the dragons were hiding or in their smaller forms. The angelic dragon had even shrunk itself, now in the form of a thin gecko atop its Draken’s head.

  Cy felt his magic surge at the realization, and he squeezed Kaitlyn’s hand reassuringly before releasing it. She flailed frantically to grab him again, but he avoided her grasp. He placed his hands on her shoulders and bent down to speak to her.

  “Look closer,” Cy whispered, pushing her toward the dragon’s head. She stared back at him in disbelief, but he simply nodded toward the creature.

  She stepped forward slowly, raising her hand to lift the leather of its wing from her head. Her legs were shaking, but her shoulders were set as she approached. Her mouth moved for a moment without sound before she finally found her voice. “Dragon?”

  The dragon turned to her, its eyes trying to communicate. A smile pulled at her mouth, and she laughed. Cy smiled at the relief in Kaitlyn’s voice.

  “I think we can all tell it's a dragon, Kaitlyn, but thanks anyway,” Cy said in an attempt to break the tension, though his heart wasn't in the comment. He couldn't look away from the dragon, but it seemed to have forgotten everything except for Kaitlyn. How can this happen?

  She shoved her hands into her pockets, and her smile got wider. “That's not what I meant, Cy. I mean that this is Dragon. My Dragon.” Kaitlyn whirled to show Cy her pockets, but he only nodded.

  Why is there so much happening right now? What is going on? He felt suspicious of the situation. Kaitlyn had had that lizard as long as he could remember. What would be the odds that it’s a dragon? What would it be doing with a human?

  Dragon stepped toward her, wrapping one hand around her waist carefully. Very slowly, it brought its head to Kaitlyn's and rubbed against her cheek. She laid her hand against its face, giggling as though there was nothing else going on at the moment.

  The Draken's words cut through to Cyllorian then, and they approached them. “The girl has a dragon protector. We must take her to the Chieftain. He will know what to do with her.”

  A Draken reached toward Kaitlyn through the small opening under Dragon’s wing, and Dragon reacted instantly, snapping for the Draken's hand. The Draken yanked his hand away, stumbling backwards as Dragon raised its head as high as its long neck would allow.

  “I am Vyekrin, and any that attempt to harm my girl shall perish, along with those lives around them. I dare any challengers to step up now, so that I may smite you sooner rather than later!” the dragon said, his voice deep and majestic. It broke through the crowd easily, silencing all around them.

  “Vyekrin,” Kaitlyn whispered, staring up at her dragon in amazement. The dragon looked down at the sound of his name. His tail swished at her feet, thumping softly on the ground. She stepped closer to the dragon, resting a hand on his back.

  After a long moment, a Draken stepped forward, then fell to his knees in a bow. It was the Draken that had first attacked them, and now he was stealing terrified glances at Vyekrin. Confused, Cy looked to all the other dragons around them, and realized that not a single one of them was Vyekrin's size. He was easily thirty feet tall in total, and his neck alone was five feet long. The other dragons were lucky if they topped at seventeen feet. They bowed low to the ground. Cy couldn't tell if it was out of respect for the superior dragon, or fear.

  “My sincerest apologies. We did not know that you had a dragon among you. If you will allow, let me take you to our Chieftain so that we can right the wrong we have done to you. Please, miss. . .?”

  Kaitlyn stepped forward, throwing her head back and forcing a commanding glare. “I am Kaitlyn, and my companion is Cyllorian. We are here to speak with your Chieftain, so yes, you may take us to him. But I expect complete honesty from you, and no tricks.”

  The Draken glanced fearfully at Vyekrin, who returned the glance with a murderous fire in his eyes. “No, my lady. We do not dare to oppose your guardian, Vyekrin. Whatever reason you have come to us for, the Chieftain will see to it. This I swear.”

  “Good. Then lead the way for me and my company.” Kaitlyn waited expectantly, but the Draken did not stand. He glanced awkwardly at Cy, then back at Kaitlyn. “Is there a problem?” she demanded when he turned his attention back to her.

  The Draken looked to his comrades around him for help, but they gave him nothing. With a sigh, the Draken answered, “No, my lady. This way to our Chieftain. He will see you at once.”

  “Why the hell do they need a week? We don't have that much time! They said the Chieftain would see us right away, but he’s not even here right now? What is up with that!” Cy growled as he paced the small house they had been ushered to after their meeting. It was a small dome made of packed mud and brick from the mountain. The hard furniture was made of similar stone, though it had been polished so it gleamed like marble. Where the Droll lived in comfort, the Draken didn’t seem to care. Even the cushions and bedding were made of tough leaves from the foliage that grew on the mountain. The only soft thing to be found was, ironically, a d
ark blue blanket from the Droll.

  “And what were they saying about a stupid war? They don't make any sense, damn it. What kind of meeting could be so important for the Chieftain to just be gone like this?”

  “The Droll said something about a war, too. Do you think there's something else going on here?” Kaitlyn asked, twisting her ribbon up in her hands. Cy could feel her gaze on him as he paced, but he couldn't stop. He was tired of waiting around and getting nothing done.

  “Hell if I know. They're all just cowards, thinking anything they do will set the humans off into another riot. Or maybe it's just an excuse not to help us. Whatever it is, it shouldn't take a week to answer a yes or no question. This is ridiculous!” Cy kicked a large jar that decorated the room, and it wobbled on its side.

  “Better now?” Kaitlyn asked as Cy stood over the pot, breathing heavily.

  He glanced at her, and the worried expression softened him a bit. “A little,” he muttered. He let out a deep breath and his shoulders slumped. Feeling utterly useless, he went to the small couch and sat beside Kaitlyn. He fell onto the seat heavily, making Kaitlyn jump. She slowly moved away from Cy, and he leaned away from her reluctantly when he noticed.

  “I just wish there was something to do. We're doing absolutely nothing up here while Arion's getting farther away, and Gil's freezing his ass off.” Cy collapsed against the back of the couch, his arms sprawling over the back of it. He stared at the ceiling, admiring the patterns in the stonework from fire exposure.

  “Didn't they say we could go outside? Maybe if we show them we can be cooperative, it'll help the time go by faster,” Kaitlyn suggested. She looked to the entrance of the house they were using. There was no door, just a large archway carved into the stone of the home. Two guards were stationed outside, motionless. “It's better than nothing.”