by Eric Vall
“You should have just gone with them.” I frowned. “What if something had happened, and you were attacked? This is why we have the new rule: don’t go anywhere alone.”
“But I didn’t go anywhere?” Marina said and tilted her head in confusion.
“I know,” I sighed, “but it was still a risk leaving you alone. Just stick together, okay. For me?”
Marina blushed and nodded. “Of course, Lord Evan. I’d do anything for you.”
“Thank you. You can come with us, now. We’re done for today.”
I grabbed the bags as we all left the library and returned to the city on the surface. The sun was low in the sky, and it was hard to believe we’d spent the entire day underground. When we approached the palace, I caught sight of Ruslan and Julia as they talked with the other two dryad sisters.
“Evan!” Ruslan called to me.
I waved at him in acknowledgement before I turned to my tired teammates.
“Thanks for all your hard work today, guys,” I said.
“It certainly was an eventful day.” Nike smirked.
“Too eventful,” Daya grumbled.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I kinda agree with Daya,” Cal sighed as he rubbed some dirt off his nose. “I think I’m going to sleep for ten years now.”
“Sure,” I chuckled, “but I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early for round two.”
“I thought you were going to say that.” The teen’s head drooped, and his forked tongue flickered sadly out of his mouth.
“I’ll be sure he reports for duty,” Daya assured me with a sharp smile.
“Thank you,” I snickered. “Be sure to get some rest and food though, alright? And are all your injuries squared away?”
My three teammates shared a glance before they all nodded.
“My leg feels good as new,” Nike replied and jumped in place to demonstrate.
“Good.” I turned to Daya. “And your head?”
“Still on my shoulders.” The fox Demi-Human smirked.
“But no nausea, headaches, dizziness?” I listed off as I narrowed my eyes at her.
“No, Lord Evan,” she laughed dryly, “I am fine, we all are. As you well know, your healing ability is quite powerful.”
“No harm in double checking.” I grinned. “Now, go on. Go get some food.”
The three of them smiled tiredly, and Nike clapped me on the shoulder before they trudged off toward the kitchens.
“Can I stay with you, Lord Evan?” Marina asked sweetly from beside me.
“Of course.” I smiled down at the beautiful dryad and held out my arm.
She giggled and latched onto me, and then we made our way over to my parents and her sisters.
“Hey, Pops, what’s going on?” I asked when I reached them.
“Not much, just haven’t heard anything about the tunnels yet,” he replied with an easy smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Polina and Trina were telling me you ran into a creature down there? Is everyone alright?”
“We’re fine, we handled it,” I said with a nod. “Cal was nearly food, but he’s alright now. Plus, I found a room full of treasures and artifacts that I think belonged to Hatra’s nobility a thousand years ago.”
“Really?” Julia asked as she fanned herself, and her blue eyes were wide with interest.
“Yeah,” I grinned, “I can show it to the two of you and Moskal later. You might recognize something.”
Ruslan wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “That’s my son. Always able to handle anything that gets thrown his way. You make your old man proud.”
“Thanks, Pops,” I laughed and pulled out of his grip.
“How was the second tunnel?” Trina asked as she bounced over and latched onto my arm. “Did you find any other monsters? Or more gold?”
“No, but we did find these.” I pulled the bags off my shoulder and held them out to my parents. “Do you recognize them? We found them inside the tunnels, along with food and blankets. I think someone had been living down there. Daya and Nike think it might have been dumb kids, but that doesn’t feel right to me. I think there’s something I’m missing, I just can’t figure out what it is.”
Ruslan grabbed two of the bags while Julia reached for the third. Then they inspected the packs for a minute as they pulled out some of the parchment and clothes from inside.
“I can’t say they look familiar to me, but granted I’m not one to stare at someone’s luggage,” Ruslan answered.
“I don’t recognize them either, sorry, Evan,” Julia said as she handed the bag back to me.
“Don’t be, I knew it was a long shot, I just figured I’d ask,” I reassured them and shouldered the bags again. “Has the outskirts group come back yet?”
“Not yet, I would assume they’ll be back soon, though,” Julia responded before she wrinkled her nose. “You might want to clean up a bit before you see them. You smell like ash and look terrible. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine, Mother,” I teased with a grin.
Her hand pulled at the hole in my shirt, and she sighed. “I’ll mend this for you later.”
“Thanks, and I think I’ll take your advice and go shower. I feel gross after being underground all day.”
“That’s understandable,” Ruslan chimed in. “You’re a dragon, you wouldn’t like being trapped under the earth for too long. You need open skies, not confined spaces.”
“Sure, Pops. And it totally didn’t have anything to do with the giant killer mole.”
Ruslan chuckled, and I talked with my parents and the dryads for a few minutes before I stepped away.
“I’m going to get cleaned up,” I excused myself. “And I want to check on the prisoners before Laika and Alyona return. Something isn’t sitting right with me about this stuff we found in the tunnels.”
“Awww, you’re leaving so soon?” Polina whined while her sisters pouted next to her.
“We barely got to see you, Evan!” Marina agreed. “Promise you’ll find us later so we can talk!”
“I promise, ladies,” I chuckled.
“Goodbye, Lord Evan!” Trina’s voice chimed as she grabbed me around the waist and clung to me.
Her two sisters joined in seconds later, and I laughed as I weaseled my way out of their embrace.
“I’ll come find you three when I have some spare time, okay?” I told them.
All three of them frowned but nodded quickly before they grouped together to comfort each other.
I waved goodbye and walked the short distance back to the temporary palace. Then I tossed the bags into my room, grabbed a change of clothes, and took a long hot shower. Once I was finished, I left the palace and headed back toward the airship.
There were a few guards on duty as I passed through the entrance, and they nodded respectfully to me. I continued inside to look for Pyotr, who was the only one beside Laika that would have a key to the cells.
“Lord Evan!” I heard someone shout.
I turned toward the noise and saw Leon through an open doorway sitting with Cal and Daya. I waved and made my way over to them.
“Hey, Leon, you need something?” I asked.
“Cal and Daya were just telling me about the monster you fought in the tunnels,” he replied with a smile. “I thought you might want to chime in and take some of the glory.”
“How ever they want to tell the story is fine with me,” I laughed. “I’m sure it’s the truth. But I’m actually here for Pyotr. Do any of you know where I could find him?”
“He was training some of the Hatra citizens last I saw him,” Daya answered, and it seemed like she had showered as well, since she was free of the dirt and stench of the tunnels.
“Thanks, I’ll see you all later.” I offered a wave before I turned and walked around the ship to the training deck.
Pyotr was still training the citizens when I arrived, and most of them were young adults. The older wolf Demi-Human barked orders at the citize
n trainees while they sparred against trained guild members, but his gray ears turned toward the sound of my footsteps as I walked into the room.
“Lord Evan,” he greeted, but his eyes stayed on the trainees as they fought. “How may I help you?”
I watched the citizens as well, and I was slightly impressed by how much they had improved since I last saw them training with Laika.
“I need the keys to Aleksey’s cell,” I replied after a moment.
“Why?” Pyotr finally turned his head to look at me. “The man’s been comatose since we burned his tattoo off.”
“I found evidence of people living in the tunnels. I just want to make sure everything is still okay.”
Pyotr’s eyes narrowed before he turned around toward the group and barked out an order. “Take a break! I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.”
The training stopped immediately as the guild members halted their movements and lowered their weapons.
“Yes, sir!” they replied in unison before they broke formation and walked to the side of the room to rest on the benches. The citizens awkwardly followed after them and chatted together.
“Come on then,” Pyotr led us from the training deck, “let’s get some answers.”
Pyotr and I left the others behind as we walked silently. When we reached the door to Aleksey’s cell, Pyotr pulled out a set of keys that he kept on his person at all times. Then he unlocked the door and swung it open, and I followed him inside.
Aleksey was on the floor, as he had been for the past few days, unconscious.
I felt out with my healing magic and called upon Miraya to give me a boost. I could sense my power as it travelled through his body and back to me, and the words that gave me a clear update on his health appeared quickly.
Classification: Human
Condition: Comatose (reason unknown)
Priority: None
Danger: None
Status: Comatose
I groaned in irritation at the lack of information. Aleksey was fine, but I couldn’t heal him, no matter how hard I tried.
I don’t sense anything wrong with him, Miraya whispered in my head.
“There has to be something.” I frowned at her words. “Do you think it’s another geas, like the one on the rest of the Green Glass Sect prisoners we have?”
Pyotr gave me a strange look as I apparently talked to myself, but he made no comment.
There is nothing, it must have something to do with his mind, the spirit sword replied. The others have a curse on them, and I can feel it, but with this one, there is nothing. It’s like he’s sleeping and refuses to wake.
“Do you have any ideas on what to do?” I asked the spirit. “We need to talk to him.”
Talk to the princess, there might be a way for her to help. I’m sorry, Evan. There is nothing I can do here.
“Damn it,” I growled, and I could feel scales crawl up my arms. “This doesn’t make any sense! The Green Glass Sect had to do something to him. It’s not a coincidence that this happened as soon as we freed him of the tattoo.”
“The tattoo could have messed with his mind,” Pyotr offered. “This could be his mind’s way of protecting him. Maybe he doesn’t want to wake up.”
“Well, we need to figure out how to fix this. We need him. He could have information that could help us find and crush the Green Glass Sect.”
“We can find another way,” Pyotr rationalized as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “He couldn’t have been too high up in their hierarchy or else they would have made sure he was killed once we captured him. I’m sure he doesn’t know anything important enough to topple the sect in one blow.”
His words helped cool my anger, and I took a deep breath.
“You’re right,” I replied, “I know you are. I just found some evidence in the tunnels that I think could be connected to the sect. If I’m right, that means we could have sect members hiding within the city.”
“Then we’ll handle it. Between you, the guild, and the princess, only a fool would dare try to attack from inside the city. They would be overpowered in a second.”
I sighed and nodded. “I’m going to see if Laika and Alyona are back. Thanks for opening the door for me.”
“Of course. I’ll be on the training deck again if you need me later.”
We left the room, and Pyotr locked the door behind us. Then we walked back to the training hall, and the older wolf went back to work. As soon as he entered the room, the guild members jumped up and returned to the mats, and the citizens trailed behind and began to spar once more.
I, on the other hand, continued through the airship as I made my way toward the exit.
The sun had finally begun to set as I walked down the ramp and back to the heart of the city. I headed toward the temporary palace and made my way to Alyona’s room. I knocked on her door, but there was no reply, so I frowned and returned to my room. Then I collapsed on my bed and closed my eyes.
After what felt like seconds, there was a frantic knock at my door.
“Evan? Are you in there?” Ravi’s voice was muffled behind the door, but it was tinged with worry. “We need your help!”
I jumped from my bed and threw the door open.
“What’s wrong?” I asked quickly.
“Laika’s group hasn’t returned, and everyone is getting worried,” she panted as she stared up at me with wide blue eyes. Her orange hair burned slightly at the tips, and tiny embers fell onto the floor below.
“Let’s go,” I ordered, and my stomach twisted uncomfortably.
We ran from the room and out of the palace, and my parents were with Daya and Tion just outside. The sky was dark, and the moonlight shone down in a silver glow.
“What happened?” I demanded as soon as I joined the group.
“Laika and Alyona’s group is missing,” Daya replied evenly.
“They aren’t missing, they just haven’t returned,” Ruslan corrected her, but he wrung his hands, and his crimson ears twitched nervously atop his head.
“I’ll find them,” I growled as my heart hammered in my chest. “They can’t be too far from here.”
Then I took off toward the wall without waiting for a response.
The gates opened, and I tore out from the city proper and shifted immediately. I launched into the sky and set out toward the outskirts of Hatra, but then I saw a flash of blue and turned my head to see Ravi in her phoenix form fly up next to me.
“What are you doing?” I asked her in disbelief.
“The buddy system,” she replied as she flapped beside my head. “You can’t go alone, so I’m coming with you.”
I sighed and shook my massive head. “Fine, but stay close. Who knows what happened out here.”
I tried my best to ignore the worst scenarios as they ran through my mind.
“I’m sure they’re fine,” Ravi comforted me as she alighted atop my head. “Laika wouldn’t let anything happen to Alyona, and Alyona is powerful. They probably just got lost or something.”
I didn’t reply as we flew, but my worry clouded all my other senses.
It only took us a few minutes to reach the outskirts, and we slowed down our pace to inspect the area.
“There!” Ravi yelled after another few minutes. “I see them!”
She dove down off my head, and I released my breath when I saw both Alyona and Laika waving at us from below.
We landed nearby and shifted back into our human forms. Then I raced over to my lovers.
I hugged Alyona tightly when I reached her, and I couldn’t stop myself from seizing her lips in a possessive, worried kiss. Then I turned to Laika, pulled her to me as well, and slanted my mouth over hers.
“What the hell happened?” I asked when I pulled away and frowned at the warrior in my arms. “Where is everyone else”
“Sinkhole,” Laika explained quickly. “I’m guessing the tunnels dug out by the Itsumade made the earth weak in some points. We were unlucky enough to find one. Alyona an
d I were behind the group, so we were able to get back in time before we were swallowed up as well.”
“Shit,” I sighed.
“That’s terrible!” Ravi exclaimed. “You two are lucky you didn’t fall in as well. It would have taken us ages to find you then.”
Laika nodded. “I know, we are very lucky.”
“Is everyone okay?” I asked.
“For the most part,” Alyona answered. “I think there are a few broken bones, but everyone is alive.”
“Where are they? I can heal them before we get them out.”
“Over here, follow us,” Laika replied.
Ravi and I followed Laika and Alyona through the ruined streets toward a section of the outskirts where we had found Adyin’s body. They led us through the houses and stopped in front of the sinkhole that swallowed the group. It was about fifteen feet wide and thirty feet deep.
I peered over the edge and saw the rest of the group down in the hole, and they were covered in dirt and dust.
“Everyone okay?” I yelled down.
“Lord Evan?” a confused voice answered, but I didn’t recognize it. “We’re fine. Can you get us out of here?”
“Yeah, it’s me,” I called back. “Listen, we’re going to get you out, but first I’m going to heal any injuries.”
As I spoke, I sent my healing magic down in a wave of glitter and felt it brush over the group. Bones and wounds mended, and I heard several sighs of relief. When I was finished, I looked around the area.
“Have you tried anything to get them out?” I asked Laika.
“Not yet.” She shook her head. “We were looking for something to pull them out with when you found us.”
“Why didn’t you just come back to the city?”
She pursed her lips and sighed. “Alyona refused to leave them alone.”
I nodded. The princess was too kind for her own good.
“My dragon form is too big to carry them out, since I won’t be able to land down there. So, we need to find rope or something similar to pull them up with.”
“We haven’t found any rope.” Laika frowned. “We’ve been looking for hours.”
“Hang on, I might have some, actually.” I pulled a bag from my storage space. “Julia packed me a bag when I left for the phoenix tribe, and I’m pretty sure rope was inside.”