by Ivy Clyde
“Let Yulong finish,” said Cain in a tight voice.
“To capture him, Prince Mekhi started slaughtering the people on Partaig’s streets. That’s how they got him to surrender, Your Highness.” Yulong burst into tears, cursing the soldiers for hurting their own people on the whim of outsiders. When he was calm enough to speak, he continued. “Princess Helena identified him to be in your company. They have declared you a rebel too, Your Highness. There are soldiers looking for you everywhere.”
“What about Prince Norvin?” I asked, my heart pounding with fear. Mekhi wasn’t successful in killing Norvin last time. He would make sure Norvin died this time at his hands.
“Who are you?” asked Yulong, peering down at me.
“She’s a maid,” said Cain impatiently, pushing me behind him. “Just answer the question.”
“They took the prince of Redfall to Arden Tower.”
There was a moment of silence between them as I made up my mind to charge the tower at once. I had no idea where it was, but it won’t be long before I rescued Norvin and killed Prince Mekhi. Emperor Ivan’s son and daughter were vicious. They knew how to use the lives of innocent people to make others submit.
“You did well to warn me, Priest Yulong,” said Cain. “You’re a loyal subject indeed.”
The priest shook his bald head. “It’s the least I can do. Don’t the Drakhaven princes know it’s a terrible sin to be killing another dragonborn? Their father committed unforgivable sins and now the sons are following in his steps. Divine retribution will be terrible for them all.”
“Continue to care for the temple, Priest Yulong,” said Cain. “I don’t know how long it would be until I can come back to the palace.”
“Of course, Your Highness. The Yulong family will not disappoint you.”
Cain nodded. “Leave now. Your family must be anxious, waiting for your return.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” He bowed deeply.
When the priest left us and the woods went back to being completely silent, I turned to grasp Cain’s arm. “We have to do something. Tell me where Arden Tower is located and I’ll get him back.”
“Not so fast, Daria. We need to plan things out.”
“We must hurry. Norvin has already been too long in Mekhi’s grasp.”
“What do we do after rescuing him? I can no longer go back to the palace or use any of my resources to help him. We must decide what to do after we free him.”
“I don’t know, Cain. But we’ve got to hurry!”
He remained silent, worsening the anxiety coiling around my stomach. “We could go back to hiding in the temple’s underground chambers. No one will find us. The priest can bring us food and fresh water every day.”
Cain shook his head. “We will have no place to run if they find their way there. The only reason the soldiers didn’t breach the underground halls was because they didn’t spot me yet. If they don’t find me soon, that’s the first place they will come looking.”
“Can’t we go to Baledonia, then?”
“Yes,” he said with a grim nod. “Adal is the only one who can help us now. But, we must be careful. No one can identify me or Norvin with him, otherwise, he’ll become another refugee like us.”
“Once we rescue Norvin, you can carry us both to Baledonia,” I said, my voice suddenly hopeful.
Cain hesitated as he met my gaze. “I don’t know if I can fly yet…”
“If you could walk, you can fly,” I said confidently. “Have you ever heard of dragons being taught to dragon? You’re not birds! Your inner dragon will guide you.”
Cain exhaled a long breath. “All right, then. Once you free Norvin, we’ll fly to Baledonia. Have you ever ridden a dragon before? You even complain about riding a horse for too long.”
A noise of frustration escaped me as I leaned against a tree trunk. My body was exhausted but my mind refused to calm down. All it wanted to do was rush to Norvin. It was the only way to ease my anxiety about him.
“I’ll figure it out,” I said. “But Cain, we’ve got to hurry and get him away from Mekhi.”
“I know.” He looked anxious too but his cautiousness was testing my patience.
“Tell me where Arden Tower is. If you don’t, I’ll find it on my own.”
“Daria.” For the first time, he used that tone with me. The one where it was impossible not to heed his words. “Haste will kill us all. The one you’re going against is, Mekhi. He’s not someone you can burn with your fire.”
“Then tell me what to do!” I shouted, tears pricking my eyes. “I can’t stop worrying about Norvin.”
His hands came to grasp my upper arms, holding me in place. “Arden Tower is the tallest tower in Partaig. Impossible to climb down on hands and feet because of the smooth marble exterior. A drop down would surely kill. There’s no escape for Norvin without meeting resistance on his way down the stairs. Even if he kills the men on the way down, by the time he reaches the lowest level, there will be more soldiers waiting for him.”
I contemplated his words. “So you’re saying walking down the stairs isn’t an option?”
“Yes.”
“So it’s a good thing you’re a dragon now,” I said, giving him a smile. “You will rescue us both from the tower’s top.”
Cain rubbed at his temples, turning away from me. “It all hinges on my ability to fly. Daria…what if I can’t?
“You can. His life depends on you.”
That brought in the look of determination I was hoping for.
Closing my eyes, I proceeded to make a connection with Tuto. When I opened my eyes, the emerald green irises turned a tawny gold as I watched him flying over a wooded area. His sight was so sharp I could even see the treetops and the roughness of the terrain down below.
“Go to the highest tower in Partaig,” I commanded him. With an annoyed hoot, he changed his direction, steadily flying westward.
Gazing back at Cain, I found him staring at me.
“You were talking to the owl?” he asked.
I nodded.
“What exactly does an owl think of?”
I chuckled softly. “I don’t know about other owls but Tuto is always thinking of food and sleep. If it’s not that, he’s reproaching me for disturbing his naps.” I sighed. “Sometimes, it’s a pain to make him obey me.”
“What did you tell the owl now?”
“I told him to go wait for me at the highest tower. I’ll make sure Norvin is there before barging in.”
“Good planning, Daria,” he said, grasping my shoulder. “Good.”
“Now, tell me about the tower’s interiors. Will there be guards on the stairs?”
A moment of silence passed. His steely eyes intensified as he thought about it.
“The stairs of Arden Tower are too narrow. It’s a tall tower with a winding staircase. You won’t face more than one man at a time, and even that’s a bit too much. If Mekhi was expecting me to rescue Norvin, he would have a big force waiting at the tower’s foot.”
“A narrow staircase will be to my advantage even if there are men on every step. I am better at fighting one-on-one than taking on too many at once.”
“What about weapons? I didn’t see you carry a sword.”
“I don’t need a sword. Too heavy and tiring,” I said with a grin.
“Right! You’re all about the needles, huh?”
“Yep.”
He tapped a finger on his forehead, pacing before me. “So you’ll make your way to the top and get Norvin. Once you do, you’ll wait for me to smash the tower’s top and rescue you.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Daria. Can’t we think of another way?”
“No, Cain! Do you think Mekhi will let him live that long? He was supposed to be dead, to begin with. Mekhi wants to capture you now. You’re the target, not him. We can’t delay much longer.”
He came close and pulled me into a tight hug. “You must promise to be careful, Daria.”
“I will be,” I replied, my voice muffled as my face was squashed against his broad chest. I stumbled back as he let me go. “Let’s go now. Once we’re ready, I will signal you through Tuto. As soon as you hear him hooting, shift and come to us.”
“Understood.” He guided me to the horse still waiting for us in a secluded spot of the forest. Untying the reins, he led the horse to the outskirts of the temple.
“Take a hidden path,” I said, mounting up. “The soldiers might be around.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said, seating himself behind me. His warm breath fanned the back of my neck as he spoke. Burying his face in my hair for a moment, he said, “I wish I’d taken your suggestion earlier.”
“What suggestion?”
“Killing Helena. If she hadn’t come to Partaig and met Mekhi, Norvin wouldn’t be in such peril.”
I almost said ‘I told you so’ but stopped myself. Cain’s guilt was even more painful than my anxiety for Norvin. The three princes were like brothers. I still couldn’t forget their anguish when they thought Norvin was dead.
“You couldn’t kill her because the emperor’s retribution to you and your people would be worse than a killing on the street. He could have burnt the entire city if you’d killed his darling, adopted daughter. For now, it’s just you he wants to punish for rebelling against him.”
“Thank you, Dari.”
“Why are you thanking me?” I asked, surprised.
“For not blaming me. I know how much you like Norvin.”
“I like you and Adal too,” I said in a soft voice. “I don’t blame you. We can’t foresee the future. Helena was supposed to have gone to Drakhaven, not Partaig. It’s as it is. We will rescue Norvin for now.”
Cain’s warm lips pressed against the back of my neck, making a pleasurable shiver run down my spine. Next moment, he shouted for the horse to move forward as he took up the reins.
3
We reached Partaig within an hour. Cain took a path through the forest, so the journey was long but it helped avoid the soldiers crawling the place.
We stared out at the city from a higher vantage atop a hill. A cold breeze blew by as I stared out at the capital city of Iorna. I’d expected it to be busy and well-lit, the most popular town in the whole kingdom but I faced a dark and quiet settlement. A tall tower loomed over the buildings crowding the main square. Flames flickered at the top, drawing my attention to it.
“The city is so beautiful at night,” said Cain in a sad voice. “It’s more like a fair with all the vendors selling their wares and people coming out to shop and enjoy the food and drinks on display. There are times when I would escape the palace to walk around by myself. I wanted to take you to my favorite tavern, Dari.” An angry hiss escaped him. “Mekhi turned my Partaig into a silent mausoleum in a single day.”
“We’ll have our revenge,” I said, closing my hand over his.
I dismounted the horse. Closing my eyes, I reconnected with Tuto. As I opened my eyes, my irises turning a tawny gold, my vision changed from the dark surroundings. Looking from a height, I stared down at a circular room. Flames from lit torches illuminated the space converted into a torture chamber.
A figure hung from a length of thick rope. His wrists were bloodied as the rope cut into them. The knees were bent and he was hanging from the rope holding his arms over his head. Long strands of midnight blue hair fell over his face, curtaining it from view.
“Fly down and check his face,” I said, my voice tight with anxiety.
Tuto flew down, flopping on the stone floor gracefully. He hopped close to the figure and looked up at the man’s face.
I gasped at the sight. Norvin’s face was a bloody mess. He looked utterly unrecognizable. Tuto hooted gently.
The figure stirred. “You damned owl,” it whispered thickly.
I closed my eyes and blinked away the vision.
“What did you see?” asked Cain, coming to stand beside me.
“Norvin is up there,” I said, gesturing into the distance. “He has been beaten badly.” Sobs choked me to think of the state he was in. “You’ve got to let me kill Helena and Mekhi for this.”
“Daria…”
“It’s personal now, Cain,” I said, looking up at him with tears falling down my cheeks. “I will never forgive anyone who hurt my princes.”
Cain’s expression grew grim as he nodded.
“Let me get Tuto to check the security around the tower,” I said, switching back my vision. Tuto followed my command, flying through one of the cut rectangular holes in the wall. As he hovered overhead, I saw several men guarding the tower but the entrance leading inside the building was unguarded. If I could slip in without them noticing, I would be able to get in without a problem.
“I am going ahead,” I said, turning to look up at Cain. He looked pale under the moonlight shining on him, but he gave me a determined nod. “Wait for Tuto to come find you here. You’ll reach the tower with just a few beats of your wings.” Cain looked stricken but stayed silent. I could tell he doubted his own abilities but at the moment, we didn’t have any other way to rescue Norvin. We had to depend on his true dragon form to help us out of this mess.
Stepping away from Cain, I turned around, walking away before he could say anything else. I knew he was worried for both mine and Norvin’s safety which hung on his capabilities, but there was nothing he could tell me that would stop me.
I walked down the low hill, making my way down until I reached a dirt path leading into the town of Partaig.
Getting closer to the city’s surroundings, I saw several soldiers moving around. Torches were lit in every corner but there were no people hanging about. Even though they were looking for Cain, I took care to stay concealed among the shadows. Helena must have told Mekhi about Cain’s hateful female attendant. The soldiers would be keeping a lookout for me as well as a golden-haired handsome man.
To my luck, I entered the city unnoticed.
The streets were dark and deserted. Other than the soldiers patrolling the streets, no one else dared to venture out. The smell of blood was thick in the air the closer I got to the central square. Just how many people did Mekhi slaughter to get Norvin to submit?
I hurried towards the direction of Arden Tower, keeping to the shadows and avoiding the soldiers marching about.
Reaching close to the tall tower, I hid behind one of the buildings surrounding it. Up close, it seemed to soar even higher into the night sky.
Soldiers ringed the vast circumference but the entrance was unguarded. Perhaps, they thought a spy or rescuer would have to go through them to get to the gateway. Getting as close to them as possible without being noticed, I concealed myself behind the wall of a nearby shop.
Aiming at a man in the far corner, I threw a poisoned dart at him. It wouldn’t kill but he would immediately pass out.
As the soldier fell to the ground, the men around him rushed to his aid at once. The shouts and urgent cries got the notice of the other guards as they came running to surround their fallen companion. Taking advantage of the chaos, I slipped through shadows to reach the tower’s gateway.
My heart thudded wildly as I stayed against a wall. I didn’t know if there were men on the tall, winding staircase leading upward. Sending Tuto down there would have attracted attention. No sane owl would willingly fly into the tower to hop down the stairs. It was too dangerous for him because a soldier might easily kill him for being a nuisance.
Taking several deep breaths, I climbed up the stairs. Needles protruded out from between my fingers. My heart thundered each time I took a turn, expecting a guard with his spear pointed at me.
It felt like a sheer miracle when I came to stand at the threshold of the tower room.
Peering inside, I found Norvin hanging limply from the length of rope hung through a hook in the ceiling.
My heart broke at the sight.
His clothes were completely soaked with blood. I could only imagine what he had t
o endure to reach a state where he couldn’t even support himself on his feet. My handsome prince was utterly broken by Mekhi. Blood pounded in my head as rage flowed like liquid fire through my veins.
Stepping into the room, I looked around, my gaze falling on the whip, crude knives, a stone club and several empty buckets littering the floor. A chair with rows of sharp steel spikes on the backrest stood in one corner. Leather straps hung from its arms. The spikes looked clean, so hopefully Norvin hadn’t endured it…yet. Steeling myself, I memorized every item, vowing to inflict the same pain to the man who hurt Norvin.
Turning away from the revolting instruments of torture, I walked towards Norvin. The moment I stepped close to him, his body jerked. His head slowly rose to look at me.
“Daria?”
His eyes were so swollen, I wondered how he could even see through them. He looked like it pained him to even talk. Still unable to talk or get to his feet, he trembled and thrashed from side to side.
“Don’t do that, Norvin!” I hissed. “You will hurt yourself more. I’m here to free you. You’ve endured enough!”
“Has he, now?” a strange voice spoke from behind me.
I froze.
Before I could turn, a sharp blow to the back of my neck made me lose consciousness.
4
A dull ache throbbed through my head as I slowly opened my eyes. Gasps of pain escaped me as the tower room came in sight.
“You’re quite an interesting maid,” said the same unfamiliar voice I’d heard before blacking out.
I struggled to pull my arms down which had been forced upward. Being senseless, they held my weight completely. Pain burned through the muscles as I tried to lower them, realizing my wrists were bound tightly by rope, its coarse length cutting into the skin of my wrists. As I came back to full consciousness, I straightened, standing on my two feet. Slowly, I raised my head to look at my tormentor.
Prince Mekhi sat in a low stool before me. It wasn’t hard to recognize him with his lavish black tunic, embroidered with gold and blue peonies. Each time I’d thought of the man in my mind, I pictured an ugly being. To my surprise, Mekhi was extremely handsome with thick locks of dark hair framing his handsome face. If he didn’t wear the expression of cruel cunningness, he would have looked truly beautiful; beautiful enough to rival Prince Adal’s looks.