She took in a breath only to have it leave her in a painful gasp. Her eyelids felt heavy. Perhaps, if she closed them for a moment, she’d feel better.
“Let go of my sister!”
“Kwe, run!”
Sarah’s body moved without her having to tell it to do so. The warm blood trails that flowed against her skin became an afterthought. In its place, at the forefront of her mind, were those voices. They belonged to Bo and Kwe. And they were frightened.
The sun was beginning to break across the sky, casting a warm light over the village. Yet, Sarah still felt like she was trapped in the darkness. Racing from the Great Spirit, following the terrified voices of her niece and nephew, she could only see ahead. The scenery in her peripherals had become a blank canvas to the path in front of her.
She just had to follow their voices.
Though the elves had the upper hand, the conflict in the village had not ceased. Sword clashed against sword, arrows zipped through the air, and Kwe’s voice guided her.
“You’re not going to get away with this. You—ah!”
Kwe’s right arm already lay limp by his side. The soldier had just snapped his left one.
Her nephew's face caved in. He didn’t want to cry, she could tell. He didn’t want to show weakness in front of the enemy. But the pain of having two arms broken would bring many to tears.
In that moment, the world came back into view once more. Sarah’s view expanded and she could see the entire hut. Gan lay motionless on the floor, like a barrier between the enemy and the small children who hid behind her. Bo was forced to the ground with a foot at her back and a noose around her neck. The rope’s end was in the hand of a smirking human. And Kwe tried not to weep in the arm’s of the enemy.
Then, they all looked at her.
A small voice in Sarah’s mind told her to sleep, that she was hurt and needed to rest. That voice was so small though, and Sarah’s rage was so much louder.
The humans had been smirking when they first saw her. Then, their breaths came out in sheets of smoke. They shivered as the ground underneath them and the hut walls were gradually covered in ice.
The three humans blinked at one another, then stared at Sarah once more.
She met the eyes of the man farther to her right before calling to the wind. His egregious bulge of a stomach convulsed and he leaned forward as if to vomit. Then, the air spiraled from his mouth like a twister. He fell to the ground with a thud.
Sarah captured the tiny storm in her right palm and met the eyes of the remaining two humans.
There was fear in them.
The woman soldier pulled on the the rope as she searched for an exit.
There would be none.
Spikes of earth pierced her abdomen and shoulder. Her body twitched like a bug who had its wings pulled off. Sarah looked her straight in her eyes until the light there dimmed, her body stilled.
Bo ripped the noose from her neck, then made quick work of the last soldier. Pulling Kwe into her arms, she hugged him and kissed his forehead.
“We’re fine now, Kwe. Don’t worry. Auntie Sarah is here now.”
He sniffled.
“You’re fine now?” Sarah asked them. The small voice inside her had grown louder.
Bo began to sob. “Thank you, Aunitie Sarah. Thank you.”
They’re fine now.
The leadened roars of her anger were drowned out by the small voice of exhaustion. It had raced to the forefront of her mind, pummeling her ears. Gone was the anger. In its place was the searing pain of her oozing wound, her bruised ribs, her slipping mental state.
Sarah fell. Time passed and all of her senses dulled. She only felt the heat from her blood as it left her. Her only comfort. Everything else was a void until warm arms wrapped around her.
“Hold on.”
She opened her eyes. Skuntz hovered above her. He looked like a worried mother hen. Sarah was too tired to laugh.
“I can heal her.” Someone else was speaking.
Skuntz moved his hand against her cheek. She leaned into him.
But she was so tired.
The world turned black.
Chapter 29
“Are you certain, Ev?”
“Yes, we’re certain,” the little gargoyle answered for both him and Sarah.
Jacob ignored him and turned to her instead. He had been particularly observant of her since the human attack at the elf village. Apparently, one of Leonna’s generals had been plotting behind her back. He had ordered a sect of soldiers loyal to him to return to the kingdom. On their way, they found an elf child who had stumbled too far from the village and followed him back.
It was a simple mistake, and the village was recovering well, just like Sarah’s body. Still, Jacob had become quite the mother hen.
He stared at her, waiting.
Holding in an exhale, she nodded. “We need to say goodbye. Everyone else has had their turn.”
The angel hesitated. The door to the human’s dungeons was right behind him. It was where the dragons had been kept for Leonna’s dresses and where Solar was dying.
The dragon had helped Sarah travel to Lyrica during her initial journey. Yet Sarah was powerless to help her now.
People scurried around them, ripping down the human banners and tapestries. Outside, bodies were still being collected and burned on the grounds. The few humans residing in the castle were meeting with Serwa and Alex per both the royals’ request. They wanted the transition be as smooth as possible. Most importantly, they wanted peace.
“At least let me escort you. I have lunch with Emry and Thobias soon but—”
“She’ll be fine, Jacob. Let her be.” Skuntz stood under an alcove to the room, watching them. “Plus, Ev is with her if she needs someone.”
The little gargoyle sighed. He grabbed her hand and stared up at her. “Can we go?”
She looked at Jacob.
Scratching his head, he groaned and stepped to the side. Sarah sent him a thankful smile and cast one last glance at Skuntz before they descended into the dungeons.
All the cells were empty except for Solar’s. The living prisoners had been set free, while those who perished were properly laid to rest. There were a number of humans either accused of sympathizing with the non-human Lyricans or who had already been found guilty.
Leonna had kept the dragons at the very bottom of her dungeon. There was a base in another region of the human kingdom where she would have her men capture them. Dragging the dragons underneath the earth, they’d travel until they reached the dungeons where the poor dragons would be imprisoned and tortured for their tears.
“Over here.” They stepped off the spiraling stairs and Evley pulled her to a large cell located at their right.
Lashes were lined across Solar’s body, nearly erasing her lovely blue scales with a blood red. She could only see them with her right eyes. The left had been sealed shut.
Her breaths were slow and steady. Purposeful. Still, she smiled when she saw Sarah.
“I always knew you would come back to us,” Solar heaved. “You are meant to be with Lyrica after all.”
Sarah stepped into the cell, then laid herself over her friend’s neck. She smoothed her hands over her scars. Crying had become second nature to her, so she barely noticed when she started.
Evley stood in a corner and stared.
Solar looked at him. “Hello, there. What’s your name?”
“I’m Evley. But I like Ev much more. What’s your name?”
After a long, deep breath, she wheezed out her response. He nodded, then pointed to a corner in the space. Sarah looked over. Three small dragons huddled together.
Serwa had mentioned Solar had had children. Despite everyone’s coaxing, the three had refused to leave their mother’s side.
“Who are they?” Ev asked.
“My sons and daughter. Luma, Enro, and Solstice. I’ve been told there was a young gargoyle who lived with dragons for a time. Is that you?”
He bobbed his head. “Did you know Renu? She took care of me.”
Solar nodded. “I did. She was my neighbor right next door.”
He turned in the direction she had getsured. “How long ago did they kill her?”
“Hmm. Only a few weeks ago. She was a true dragon with a fighting spirit.”
Ev stood perfectly still, staring in the direction of the cell. He scratched at his chest and sighed.
Groaning, Solar lifted her tail and ushered her children forward. They yipped and squeaked as she forced them out of the corner.
“Hush, hush now,” she whispered. “Your father would be very sad to see you three whining so much. This gargoyle will take care of you now, won’t you, Ev?”
“Are you sure?” he said, eyes round and hopeful.
“Babies are a big responsibility, Ev,” Sarah warned.
“That’s fine! I know what dragons eat. Renu taught me. And she taught about flying too, so I can help them with that.” He looked over the three dragons in front of him. “Luma, Enru, and Solstice. I’ll take care of you. Don’t worry, Solar.”
The dragon chuckled. “I’m not. This is the least worried I’ve felt in some time. And how are you, Sarah?”
Sarah placed a hand on her side. “I’ve been better but I can’t complain. I wish I had…I wish I had gotten here sooner. Solar, I am—”
“No, no,” she replied. “There is no point to what-ifs. I spent so much time in this dungeon wondering to myself, ‘What if I hadn’t gone flying that day? What if I hadn’t stopped to help the human merchant stuck on the road?’ No matter how many times I asked myself these questions, I was still here.”
Sarah moved her hand along her cheek. “I don’t want you to go,” she whispered.
“And yet it’s my time to go. My wounds have taken me too far,” she replied. “I will be happy to see their father in the afterlife. Abelard, as well. He’ll be so proud of Klara. She’s returned home to run for the head of their clan?”
“Yes. She wants to work on uniting Lyrica with Serwa and Alex.”
“Good. I’m happy Lyrica will be in all of your hands. I do have a request of you, Sarah.”
“Anything.” Sarah pressed the words out between her lips, forcing back the ball in her throat.
Serwa sighed. “So many dragons perished in these dungeons. But I know my kin still live. Find the few of us that remain, help the gargoyle care for my children. We cannot go extinct.”
“I swear it.” She placed a hand over her heart. “As long as I’m around, dragons will remain part of Lyrica.”
A small smile appeared across Solar’s face. “Good.”
Sarah scooted closer to the dragon. She positioned herself so they were cheek to cheek and both their tears spilled together.
“I know we had no choice to retaliate. The humans left us no other options.” Solar breathed and her words were much slower. “Still, I wonder. When both sides lose those we care for, what reason is there to ever celebrate?”
A sob burst from Sarah. She flung her arms around Solar’s neck and hugged her.
“I’m going to miss you.”
A labored breath.
“And I will miss you…Sarah.” Her name was carried on Solar’s last breath like a leaf on the wind.
Sarah weeped a bit more, kissed her friend’s cheek, then wiped her eyes and headed up the stairs. Ev and the dragons sped ahead of her, squealing and laughing. She smiled though she felt none of their joy.
When they emerged in the castle again, Skuntz was standing by the door. Ev and the dragons ran off.
He looked at her. Bandages decorated his body. He hadn’t saved the elf village without a few wounds of his own, though his top and trousers did a good job of hiding most of the damage.
“Has she passed?” he asked.
Sarah bobbed her head. “She left her children to Ev to care for. He seems to have a way with dragons.”
“Hm. That’s true. You’re not feeling well.”
She scoffed. “Would you be?”
“No.” Without warning, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him.
Sarah sighed and fell willingingly. No matter how much she slept or rested, her fatigue would not leave her. But there was still much more to do on Lyrica.
And at some point, when she figured out how to move freely between the worlds, there would be much to do on Earth. What happened to her mother…Sarah would have to speak with her. To fix things, or at least see her father again.
She looked beyond Skuntz out into the windows where the sky was bright from the afternoon sun.
“We shouldn’t waste too much time,” she stated, stepping out of his embrace and moving to the window.
“You have somewhere to be?” He had moved beside her.
Sarah shook her head, gazing down at the remnants of the human war. “No, but we both have work to do.”
He smiled. “Agreed.”
She spun on her heels with Skuntz by her side. Together they stepped out into the grounds, prepared to rebuild their world.
THE END
About the Author
Natasha D. Lane is a friend of most things caffeinated, a lover of books, and a writing warrior to her core.
As a big believer in the idea that “the pen is mightier than the sword,” she graduated from Juniata College in 2015 with hopes of becoming a journalist. Instead, her path took her on a different route and Natasha found herself digging up a manuscript from her childhood.
This dusty stack of papers would become “The Pariah Child & the Ever-Giving Stone." With one book under her belt, Natasha went on to release"The Woman In the Tree: The True Story of Camelot" and most recently "The Pariah Child: Sarafina's Return."
If there were a single piece of advice Natasha could give to young writers, it’d be this: Write your way through life.
To learn more about Natasha and the upcoming sequel, visit http://www.natashalanewrites.com/
To read more of her work, check her out on Amazon.
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