Chapter Ten: The King of Dragons

As luck would have it, the storm cloud decided it was too heavy, and began to shed some weight by raining on us. That wouldn't have been so bad – we found shelter easily in one of the many tree hollows nearby – except the rain washed away the tracks made by Freud. By the time we scaled down the cliff, all signs of Freud had been washed away.

"Awesome," I said none too cheerfully. "We lost him."

Aran studied the mud, picking some up and rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. "We're shit out of luck," he agreed.

Ryu pawed the ground and barked. "Did you find something, Ryu?" Aran looked at his canine companion with a cocked head. Ryu wagged his tail and leapt forward, turning his great white head towards us and beckoning us to follow.

"Maybe some of his scent is still lingering," Aran thought out loud as we followed the wolf. Ryu led us past many trees, bushes and clearings until we reached a wall of thick vines that stood over ten feet tall.

"That looks nasty," I remarked as I craned my neck upwards to see where the wall ended. "Do you think he might be on the other side?"

Ryu barked. I took that as a yes. Slowly but surely, Aran and I began hacking away at the wall with our portable axes. The vines were stubborn and refused to yield much. After six hours, we had only cleared a small opening.

Aran assessed the opening. "I think it's big enough now that you can squeeze through," he told me. "Try it."

I dropped my axe and got on my hands and knees. When that failed to work, I slid onto my belly and tried to wiggle through. "I think my butt's stuck," I said after a while. I wriggled my butt to prove my point. "Yup. Definitely lodged." I could feel Aran's sleazy stare upon me. "Cut that out, or I'll cut your balls off," I said nonchalantly.

He laughed as began to cut away at the vines around me. "Are you sure you're a princess?"

"You're not the first person to ask me that," I grunted. "And you certainly won't be the last. When I become queen, it'll be a cool thing."

"If you insist," he said between chops. "There. Try now."

I wiggled again and found myself sliding forward an inch or two. "Cygnus, I feel so fat," I complained. "Why won't it let me through?"

"Too many cream puffs," Aran joked.

"Oh, sock it."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"That's more like it. Oh! I'm in." My butt finally pushed past the vines, albeit with a few scrapes and bruises, and my legs followed. I stood up and brushed the mud off my clothes. Pity. They were designer too. I suppose I'd just have to get Mama to order me a new set when… I shook my head and corrected myself: if I ever returned.

I looked ahead and saw the mouth of a large, intimidating cave. Sharp granite boulders sprawled across the entrance, jutting out like misplaced knives. I gulped as I imagined being impaled on one of the many rocks.

"I'm going on ahead," I yelled at Aran.

"Be careful!"

He didn't need to tell me. I was already treading carefully, navigating myself through tiny cracks between the irregular rocks. I had already sustained a few gashes on my arms and legs – I didn't want more. The cave looked deep and dark. I searched in my pockets for a flashlight. Bummer. I didn't have one. Not that I needed one – my night vision was already terrific since I was an elf. Still, I could have used any help I could get.

I felt a slight chill on my skin as I delved deeper and deeper into the cave mouth. Drops of water dripped onto the icy stone floor. Occasionally I stepped in a puddle. The water seeped into my boots, much to my annoyance.

Instinct told me to keep walking and not look back. I felt the cave wall with my hand and slowly groped my way forward in the darkness. I don't know how long I walked for – it could have been only a few minutes or a few hours or maybe even a few days. Time seemed to stand still in that cave. The only sound I could hear was the loud thumping of my heartbeat in my ears. Nothing else moved in the cave. And then –

A light. Shining straight ahead. It was the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, except I wasn't sure if I was walking to my death or just the end of cave. At any rate, there was no turning back. I felt compelled to move forward, towards the light, whatever it was. I slammed my eyes shut and shielded my face with my arms from the dazzling light that greeted me. When I finally adjusted to the light and could open my eyes again, I gasped.

I was in a beautiful garden. Lush and green, with a sparkling pond and a gushing waterfall. Trees grew big and leafy all around me, scattered around the pond. Pink flowers dotted the greenery. A light warm breeze fluttered the leaves and long blades of grass. It played with my hair, sending stray strands of my hair flapping against my face. I tucked the stray strands behind my ear and feasted with my eyes on the gorgeous scenery sprawled before me.

It was then that I came to the terrifying realization that I was not alone. Not far from me, near the pond, several dragons rested there. They appeared to be sleeping, but one suddenly flicked open a large, pale eye and looked straight at me. It gave a sharp cry, alerting its friends. Suddenly, I was surrounded by at least eight terrifying dragons. Needless to say, they didn't look all too happy to see me in their little paradise.

Human! One of them shrieked. Why are you here?

Another cried: Blood! I smell the blood of our brothers on her!

She must be killed!

We must avenge our brothers!

I gulped. They seemed determined to make a victim of me, and I wasn't sure – no, I was absolutely positive I didn't have the strength to take on that many dragons by myself. There was nowhere to run, so I tried to stand my ground. "I am Mercedes, Princess of the Elves, Heir to the Throne of Elluel. I come in peace!" I shouted at them.

Stupid human. We do not care for your titles or affiliations. You are just another worthless two-legged critter who does not belong here.

I bit my lower lip and put on my fiercest look. "I repeat, I come in peace! I mean no harm! I am only here to search for my friend!"

This gave them pause. One of them flicked an interested glance at me and then looked at his companions. Should we bring her to see A'Frien?

The dragons continued their conversation in what I assumed was their native language, with its varied pitches and melodic quality. It was like listening to a symphony that belonged to neither here nor there, but a place of its own, located in a crack between worlds. Finally, the dragon that spoke last turned to me and screeched: Follow me, human. You are lucky we have decided to spare your life… for now.

With a flap of his large winds he was airborne. He hovered just a few inches over my head, casting a large dark shadow over me, threatening to crush me at any moment. I suppose it was his way of showing me who was in control. I was at the mercy of these beasts, and I didn't take it for granted.

He flew into the waterfall. I held my breath, closed my eyes and stepped into the curtain of water. To my surprise, I did not get wet. The curtain emitted a soft warmth that encased me, comforted me, reassured me. I opened my eyes and blinked.

I was in a large cave lit by a source I could not see. It was a palace of ice and stone. The floor glittered and gleamed, reflecting my image in a million fractured pieces. Shining crystals shot up from the floor like prized sculptures. And at the very end of the cave, a dragon, larger than any I had ever laid eyes on, rested on all fours. It looked at me with its pale amber eyes, penetrating into the depths of my soul. No secret escaped those eyes; they searched every corner of my being, effortless prying my secrets away from me.

"'Cedes! What are you doing here?" Freud's voice broke the magic, and I snapped back to the present.

"Freud!" I cried, delighted and relieved to see his pyjama-clad figure beside the large dragon. "What are you doing here?"

Freud glanced up at the dragon and then turned back to me. "I was summoned here."

My eyes widened. "But… how?"

Freud gave me a gentle smile. "The King of Dragons has that kind of ability, apparently."

My jaw dropped. "Him?" Without thinking, I found myself pointing at the large beast.

The dragon looked at me with those exquisite eyes again. He looked amused. Yes, me. I am A'Frien, King of the Dragons. I welcome you to my home.

I stammered for words, but found myself speechless. Freud decided to fill the silence. "Afrien wants to forge an alliance with me," he explained. "He had heard of me through his sister, the one whom I rescued a while back, and he was interested in meeting a like-minded human."

Indeed, I have been searching long and hard for a human like Freud. I am glad he has decided to come to me.

Freud turned his smile to Afrien. "Yes, before you came, 'Cedes, we were speaking of a magic pact, something that would bind our powers together and allow us to be even stronger than we would be alone."

I blinked. An alliance? A magic pact? What were they talking about?

Freud seemed to understand the confusion on my face. "It's a way of working together, 'Cedes. A relationship between human and dragon. One that would allow a human to channel the strength of a dragon and vice versa so that we would both be stronger."

Bewilderment filled my eyes. "Is that even possible?"

Freud shrugged. "I don't know yet. But it's certainly an interesting idea! One that would put all my years of research to good use, I think."

"But what would the others think?" I gasped. "And… and what about the impending war?"

Freud's eyes snapped open. He slapped a fist against the palm of his other hand. "That's right – I'd almost forgotten!" Turning to Afrien, he said, "I came to warn you and your people about the war that is being launched by a highly dangerous, powerful mage. His name is Arkarium, and he is a warmonger. I do not want to see unnecessary bloodshed between humans and dragons."

I have heard about this warmonger of which you speak. He is notorious even among us dragons. I have sent my most trusted Bak'lav – spies, in your language – to keep an eye on him. Afrien closed his eyes. I have lost many of my Bak'lav and brothers to this man. I do not wish to lose any more. Will you help us, Freud?

Freud nodded solemnly. At that moment I felt a strange, dizzying sensation at the sight of the small, young human, clad in only his cotton PJs, looking far older and wiser than a boy of thirteen years. He seemed timeless and infinite. He was simply… beautiful.

Afrien slowly opened his eyes. Thank you, Freud. I look forward to working with you. You are an extraordinary human. I have lived many thousands of years, but you are the first human whose strength is unmatched by any I have seen.

A faint red tinge coloured Freud's cheeks at the compliment, but I realized what Afrien had said was true. Freud was strong. Far stronger than any human mage I had ever met. With the king of dragons now on his side, just how much stronger would he get? The idea was both disturbing and exhilarating.

"Freud," I interrupted. "Aran – he's still outside, waiting for us. Sylvie and Ryu are with him."

Fear not, Princess Mercedes of Elluel. I have sent a brother to bring them here. They should be arriving soon.

I nodded quietly and waited. Meanwhile, Freud and Afrien continued to converse, and it became apparent that the depth and quality of their conversation was beyond my understanding. They spoke cryptically of high-level, complex spells that required a superior grasp of the finer technicalities of magic channelling. Soon I found my eyelids drooping as the dull lull of their conversation pulled me into a deep slumber.

That is, until I heard Aran screaming at the top of his lungs. "Put me down, you filthy vermin!" I snapped awake as I saw a dragon swooping in, carrying Aran's body between its talons. Perhaps because he was fed up with the whiny warrior, the dragon abruptly dropped Aran in the middle of the cave. He landed with a thud on the floor.

Sarin, that's no way to treat our guest, Afrien reprimanded his brother. Sarin appeared to screech an apology and then flew out.

Aran sat up and rubbed his butt with a hand. "Where the fuck am I?"

"In palace of the King of Dragons," I answered, glad to see him again. I helped him up and dusted off his armour. "Where are Sylvie and Ryu?"

"Still outside. I gave them the command to wait. They didn't look too happy with the presence of dragons so near. It's against their animal instincts."

I nodded. "That makes sense. They're natural predators, aren't they?"

"Something like that." He turned around and gasped at the sight of Afrien. "Holy… shit."

I cracked a shy smile. "That was my reaction too," I said quietly.

If dragons could smile, I imagine Afrien just gave us one because the corners of his giant mouth pulled back and his long sharp teeth glinted at us. I repressed a shudder. Even Aran, I could see, was shaking just a little.

Welcome to my home. I am A'Frien, King of the Dragons.

Aran looked back at the king solemnly and said, "I am Aran of the Rien Clan."

It is a pleasure to meet the friends of Freud. You will stay with us until we have drafted a plan of action against Arkarium, yes?

Aran and I exchanged glances. I suppose we had no choice, I thought. It was still too dangerous outside, and we didn't know what was going on between the various factions that divided the people of Ellin Forest and Elluel.

I nodded at the great beast. "Yes, we will. For the time being anyway."


A/N: I know it's been a while, but I'm juggling between this and three original stories right now, so it's not always easy updating everything regularly. Give me a shout if you enjoyed it. Or not. I like playing with fire too. ;)