The Oracle's Prophecy

by Alex Leopold

  “This nation?”

  “Yes.”

  “A little more simple, a lot more peaceful.” He reflected with a happy sigh. “Back then, people of our age wouldn't be fighting wars, we’d be in school. We wouldn't be worried about staying alive, we’d be worried about stupid things.”

  “Like?”

  “Making friends, being cool, falling in love.”

  His eyes fell on her after he spoke those last words and he paused as if his voice had been robbed of words.

  “They’d worry about falling in love?” She tried to sound innocent, but she’d noticed the way he was looking at her. It was making her blood hot.

  “Well, they were mostly worried about finding a good party.” He lied with a sheepish grin. “But sure, falling in love, too.”

  “I'd like to worry about falling in love for a change.” She told him, and tried to ignore how idiotic that sounded.

  Suddenly, the desire to be kissed by this man was overwhelming. The feeling was so powerful she worried she might lose control and switch right on top of him.

  He seemed to read this longing and dipped his head toward hers. The motion was unmistakable and she closed her eyes in anticipation of feeling his lips on hers.

  Then, nothing.

  “I can’t come with you.”

  “What?” She asked, still a little breathless.

  He coughed before continuing. “My men are locked in Directory cells in the City in the Clouds. If the resistance is truly gone then I have to return to Hellanta, and request an audience with Kalahar.”

  “You didn't think to start with that?” She asked recoiling from him. Shuffling across the ground she created a noticeable divide between the two of them.

  “I was getting to it.” He offered with a sheepish grin.

  “Why leave now? Why not later?” She pouted, the shame of what she'd all but admitted to him made her cheeks burn red.

  “There’s no time.” He explained. “Soon, the Archon is going to realize my men will never help him build a flying army. When that happens he'll have them all executed.”

  “I'm sorry.”

  She said flippantly because at that very moment she didn't feel sorrow for the man beside her, not at all. Instead, she felt rage. She’d all but thrown herself at him and he’d rejected her.

  “I wish …” He began, but she cut him off.

  “We’ll be leaving at first light.” She said brusquely as she stood. “I should get some rest. If I don't see you before you leave, then I hope you succeed in helping your men. Goodbye.”

  She disappeared into the night before he could say a word to stop her, and kept going till she was hiding in the shadows of the forest.

  “What should I do?” She whispered as fresh tears welled in her eyes.

  She was talking to the night. Yet, she knew Mayat was close by, the Sekhem was never far away from her or her sister.

  “Let him go.” The felisian woman whispered back as she stepped out into the glade. “He is a distraction you can not afford right now.”

  “What if I don't want to?” Cooper sniffled as she kicked a fallen branch. “What if I give him a reason to stay?”

  Mayat shook her head.

  “There’s no reason you can give him. He needs an army to win back his city. He knew he had to leave you the moment he found out the resistance was gone.

  “Let him go.” Mayat repeated. Then she turned around and moved silently back into the dark forest.

  Cooper dragged her feet as she walked back to where she'd left Ellis. She was going to apologize to him for the way she’d acted, but when she returned she saw he’d gone. She thought about looking for him, instead she just sat down on the ground to sulk.

  It wasn't fair, her mind told her. They’d done everything they were supposed to, and they'd still lost.

  A clink of chains indicated the dragon had stirred in his cage. When Cooper looked between the bars, she saw the colossal had raised its head and was looking passed her toward the house. Then Cooper heard it too, the subtle flapping of wings. A second later Goose was in her lap.

  “Pretty lady, give me a treat?” He asked as he jumped into her open hand.

  “I don't have anything for you, silly bird.” She said with a smile as she stroked his feathers with the back of her hand. We left all your food at home, she thought.

  Then something unexpected happened. The bird spoke back to her through the tuning.

  “If food’s home, go home.” Goose tapped and opened his beak in a wide gaping smile.

  Cooper couldn't believe it, Goose had heard her. But how, she wondered?

  “Can you hear me?” She asked in her head.

  He did not respond.

  Then she remembered how she'd been stroking his wing when she’d spoken.

  I have to be touching them in order to communicate, she realized, and had to bite her lip to contain her excitement.

  Stroking his back, she asked the question again. When the Macaw began nodding his head, a mischievous grin spread across Cooper’s lips.

  Her eyes looked back up to stare at the dragon.

  “Time to do something stupid.” She said to the winged beast.

  79

  When Riley left her sister, she returned to the house to check on the freed captives. As she passed the tree where they'd questioned Weaver, she saw that the old woman was gone.

  “We were done with her.” Was all Acadia offered by way of explanation. That was last time he ever spoke of the Directory agent.

  Inside the house, Riley found that many of the captives were now on their feet. The rest she tried to help in anyway she could. Riley didn't mind the work. In fact, she found it gave her the first real sense of happiness in days. It also distracted her from the fact that tomorrow her group was going to leave them all behind.

  “They have Narmbek's horses and Weaver's food. They'll be fine.” Acadia had told her.

  “And if the Myrmidons and Directory forces are only a day behind us, then it's better we part ways now.” Malthus had agreed.

  Better for whom, Riley wanted to ask, but held her tongue. She knew even though they sounded cold that they were right. So she did what she could to ensure the captives were as comfortable as possible.

  Eventually though her work came to an end and once again she was standing in the night with nothing but her thoughts for company.

  Before the events of the last few days, she would’ve enjoyed the opportunity to be by herself, but not anymore. Alone, she was reminded that her father was dead, Varick was a killer and the book in her pocket spoke of a future where the Archon might dominate the nation, forever.

  Whenever the book crept into her thoughts, she found she was unable to help herself, and opened it on her lap. The most recent entry had been made by Cooper following her strange experience with the children of the Invisible Mountain.

  They had names: Kala, Cavan, Lillit and Pepper. And if Nakano was to be believed they’d lead the Pathfinder to the source of the Key’s power.

  Malthus wanted to use what was in the book to stop the Archon from succeeding. In order to do that, did that mean they’d have to stop these children? Would that mean killing them, she wondered? Killing children?

  Riley snapped the book shut and stuffed it back into her pocket. She didn't want to think on such things.

  “You look dog-tired, Miss Riley.” A concerned Redtail said after appearing by her side. “And I should know, being part dog-and-all.”

  He nudged her playfully when she didn't respond at his attempt at humor, and she betrayed a smile.

  “I'm fine.” She promised, even though she could barely stand.

  “Why don't you come lean against me and Goose by the fire?”

  The houndsman nudged the Macaw on his shoulder for a response.

  “If food's home, go home.” The bird said.

  “See, Goose agrees.” Redtail said as he guided her to where the others were sitting. “You don't even need to fall asleep
if you don't want, just shut your eyes for a moment.”

  She did what he asked because Redtail's nature was too sweet and his face too lovable to refuse. She didn’t think she'd be able to sleep, not with everything weighing her down. The moment she gave into it though, she was gone.

  In her dreams, she found herself in a torchlit barn surrounded by crowds of people, their voices drowned out by loud music and drunken laughter. It was a party. For a moment she didn't know why she was there, then she saw the young married couple sitting side-by-side at a small table tucked away from the others in a corner. It was her mother and father. She was dreaming of her parent’s wedding.

  The new husband and wife looked blissfully exhausted from the celebrations and Riley savored the image of the two of them together.

  When a group of drunken revelers blocked her view for a second her father disappeared from his seat. After scanning a sea of faces it looked to Riley as if he’d vanished. Then he was right in front of her.

  “The Archon is not the only Pathfinder!” Her father’s younger-self told her, having to shout to be heard over the music. “Tell your sister, I...”

  A sudden commotion brought her awake with a jolt, causing her to forget the last moments of the dream. Before she could ask what was gong on Redtail pulled her onto her feet and raced her to the tree line.

  “There's something in the skies.” He hissed to her as he pushed her under the cover of the branches of a tall oak.

  “What is it?” She asked and then she heard it from above. The loud clap of two massive wings pounding the air.

  It was unmistakable. Dragons.

  Riley instinctively peered toward the cage where they'd been holding Narmbek's captured colossal. It was over fifty yards away, but in the first light of dawn there was enough light to see that the beast was gone.

  Oh, Cooper what have you done, she thought. Then she realized she hadn't seen her sister in hours.

  “Red, where's Cooper?” She asked.

  Before he could reply, something massive dropped from the air and landed right in front of her, the beast rising up to its full height the moment it was on the ground.

  “My god!” She whispered with alarm.

  On its hind legs, the dragon was more than twice Acadia’s height, and up close Riley could see that its body was a mix of a dinosaur’s and that of a hawks.

  “Aim for its belly.” Riley heard Ellis call out from close by as Mayat and Acadia stood protectively in front of her with their weapons.

  “Don't do that!” Cooper shouted as she exited the switch right in front of them. Her body was now blocking them from firing at the beast.

  “Cooper you fool, move out of the way!” Acadia barked. “It's right behind you.”

  She was so close in fact that all the dragon had to do was swipe its clawed front feet and it would've torn her back open. But she didn't move.

  “It's okay.” She told them.

  As she spoke she made a hand gesture to the dragon, pointing a finger down to the earth.

  Letting out a long shrill roar that made Riley’s heart leap into her throat, the red-and-blue colored colossal retracted its massive feathered-wings and dropped down onto its front feet. Now its head was pressed up against Cooper's legs. You could see the folds of her pants sway when the dragon exhaled through its nostrils.

  “This is the dragon that Narmbek captured.” Cooper began, holding up a hand to Acadia and Mayat to ask for their patience so she could explain.

  “I can see that, Cooper.” Acadia responded. “Why’s he out of his cage?”

  “I made a deal with him. I'd free him if he helped us.”

  “How could you make a deal with a dragon?" An openly nervous Malthus asked.

  “I tuned into his mind.”

  Then they all heard a voice speak within their heads. “For my freedom I will fly you.”

  “Was that the dragon?” A slack-jawed Redtail asked.

  “I tapped his thoughts into your heads.” Cooper confirmed, looking proud of herself.

  The colossal nodded its massive head then it raised its snout to the morning sky and let out another roar.

  The ground shook again as more dragon's dropped from the air. In the end there were seven.

  “Woo-hooo, that's a big bird!” Goose said from Red's shoulder after they’d all landed.

  “You said it.” The houndsman replied dry mouthed.

  The butt of his long-rifle was still in his shoulder, but he was no longer sure where to point the barrel.

  “Cooper, why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like what you’re about to tell me?” A dumbfounded Acadia asked as he watched the seven dragons all crouch down quietly behind this small girl.

  Cooper gave a nervous laugh. “I made some new friends.”

  “Are they dragons?” Redtail asked nervously. “Cause if they aren’t, we’re in real trouble.”

  “Yes, they’re dragons.” She chuckled.

  “It’s not a coincidence there are seven of them, is it?” The grizzly asked.

  “It’s not. My plan requires one for each of us.”

  “You have a plan?” Acadia asked going wide-eyed.

  “I do.” She said, finding Riley among the faces in front of her.

  “Do you remember when you asked me about the Oracle’s prophecy? If I believed a person could see into our future?”

  “You want to discuss this now?” An incredulous Riley asked.

  “Indulge me.”

  “You said, no.” Riley replied, keeping her eyes on the colossals. “You said, you didn’t like the thought that someone could tell you what you were going to do next, when you rarely knew yourself.”

  “That’s right!” She nodded. “And that gave me a thought.”

  “A thought?”

  “Yes, it gave me a simple little thought.” She beamed as she explained. “If I didn’t believe in the prophecy, then what would stop me from bending it to my will.”

  If everyone wasn’t totally confused already, they were now.

  “Bending it?” Riley asked.

  “It’s written that when the resistance receives the prophecy, an order is given to the three generals to attack a city.” Cooper reminded them.

  “Yet, how can that work if there is no resistance?” She asked, knowing they’d asked themselves this very question all night, without an answer.

  “It works, cause I force it too.” She told them with an air of triumph.

  “I make us the resistance, and I appoint three men to be my generals.” She pointed a hand at Ellis, then to Malthus and then to Acadia.

  “And I give them an order: fly with me to the City in the Clouds, and help me free its people.”

  Riley was stunned.

  “This is unbelievable.” Malthus said, echoing Riley’s thoughts.

  “Tell me that’s not exactly how it’s written in the journal, word-for-word?” Cooper challenged him.

  Malthus opened his mouth to reply but Acadia cut him off.

  “You’re right, Cooper. That’s how it’s written.” The grizzly agreed. “But do you realize what it is that you’re suggesting?”

  “I do.”

  She wanted the seven of them to go to the City in the Clouds, and start a war.

  80

  It might feel a little frightening.

  That was what Riley had been warned. Yet, as the beast continued to ascend almost vertically up into the sky, and her knuckles went white from holding on for dear life, she thought it might’ve been better to be told that it would be the most frightening thing she'd ever experience. And the sound of Acadia crying out with terror as he followed her up on his own dragon meant she was not alone.

  This was crazy she thought, her mind echoing the sentiments expressed by Malthus earlier. Though, in that situation, the broadcaster hadn't just been referring to the part of Cooper’s plan that would see them race across the heavens, crudely strapped to the backs of seven dragons. He’d been talking about the endeav
or as a whole.

  “What you’re suggesting can't be done.” He’d cautioned Cooper almost the second after she'd laid out her plan.

  A plan that would have them fly to the City in the Clouds. Sneak inside undetected. Free the dragon-riders and then fight to take back the city.

  “The city is teaming with Directory guards, not to mention these winged-human ‘draculats’ that Ellis described.” Malthus continued. “Even with all your powers, you won't be able to fight every one of them."

  “I won't need to.” Riley's sister replied back stubbornly. “Once we free Ellis' people, we'll have all the men we need.”

  Malthus frowned at that.

  “How do we know any of them are still alive? How do we know they haven't all been turned into drones, or normalized, or something worse that we can't even imagine?”

  “They’re alive.” Ellis insisted, bristling with indignation as he tightened a strap around the dragon that would carry Mayat. “And as long as they're still breathing, they'll do whatever is necessary to take back the city.”

  Malthus had given him a curt look, and Riley had known exactly what he was thinking. Had Cooper made this decision – this potentially suicidal decision – just to make Ellis stay with her? Would she have been so reckless if it was a different city? A different boy?

  “If you fail, you give the Archon everything he wants.” Malthus told her. “He’ll get the prophecy. He’ll get the daughters of the Great Inventor. He’ll get the son of the Manhattan, the rightful leader of the dragon-riders. He’ll get everything.”

  “I don’t care, I’m done with hiding. Besides, we're not going to fail.” She argued.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because the Directory believe the resistance has been eliminated. They think there’s no one left to challenge them. So they won't expect something like this.”

  “They might.” Malthus warned her. “Remember, they have an army of predictors. They might all ready know you're coming.”

  That seemed to rob the fire from Cooper, and her face went grim. Clearly, this was not something she’d factored into her plan.

  “If you’ll just, wait.” He advised. “Allow me to train you, make you …”