Aaron: Chapter Forty-Six
"Why did you lie to me Aaron?" Iolene asked me in sadness. "Hugo told me your real name... I thought we were friends..."
I look down and play with my hands. "W-We are friends... I just... I dunno... When I tell people. They seem to... Hate me... I don't understand... I just thought if I told you... You will never talk to me again..."
"That's stupid..." She says as she pouts. She doesn't understand... She maybe from the priesthood. But she has never seen how the real world is.
"I guess you like Sabrael stories." She says.
"My mother used to read those stories. He is a noble knight... Brave and strong. I want to be like him..."
I see her face eases up and smiles. "He is a great man!" She says.
"What? The stories aren't real." I have never thought of then as real. He is a valiant character... Saving Kings and Queens. Fighting for justice and peace. Everyone loves him... Can a man be so perfect in real life?
"Yes they are. He was a real man! They have a painting of him in the temple. He was honoured."
I smile in reply. I don't believe her, she is trying to make me feel better. Even though she doesn't understand.
In a change of scenery we walk out of the kennel and part ways since its sunset. I walk around Looking at the ground. I feel so horrible for lying about my name... I never meant to lie...
I see Hugo my older step-brother. Along with his four noble friends. Hugo is two years older than me. I also have a another older step brother named
He is nicer than Hugo. He ignores me... I much prefer that than what Hugo does.
Hugo stands there all confident folding his arms. He is smiling at me... I try to walk in a different direction. But he stands in front of me.
I wave to him. "Hi Hugo... How was your day?" Sounding nervous. I know how these encounters usually end. And its not good...
They walk towards me and I walk backwards. I accidently corner myself at a shed wall. I look around... I am so stupid! I should have looked!
"GET THE BASTARD!" Hugo shouts. And they all gang up on me. The punching the kicking... I stumbled backwards and cut my arm on a nearby axe.
It was a while until they stop. I lied in a foetal on the ground. I cough as I struggled to breath. Everything hurts! I cry in distress. Since there is nothing else I can do... After a while managed to get up and head back to the kennel. I lie on the cold hard ground.
I should have gone to the kitchen to see if they had anything to eat. But I wasn't hungry... Not after that. I thought of my mother... I miss her so much and forever will. I miss her hugs, I miss her stroking my hair, I miss her voice when she sings to me, I miss her telling me stories. I fell asleep by imagining my mother singing me a lullaby. She was such a great singer...
I feel so lonely and scared. By morning my whole body hurt. My deep cut doesn't look good either... It bled for a while until it stopped. But it's still open.
The kennel master comes in like he does every morning.
"Get up lazy shit!" As he chucks me the rake and broom. I groan in pain as they fall onto my bruises.
"You have been slacking off! Look at this place! I want this place spotless by tonight! Or it's a whipping for you!" He then slaps my head and slams the door behind him. Causing the drag hounds to bark.
Perfect... Just perfect... I sit up looking around. I need to get cleaning. I don't want to be in more pain.
I went out to the kitchen and managed to get a stale bread roll for breakfast. Then started working at the kennel. I swept the floor and each kennel removing their hay.
Iolene runs right in as I swept. Hay gets blown around.
"IOLENE!" I scream out in frustration.
She stops and looks at me. "Wha... What happened to you?" She looks shocked. Do I look that bad? She runs to me and cups my face in her hands.
"Hugo.." I whisper. "Look I have to clean this mess up!"
"Your arm!" As she grabs my badly cut arm. She strokes it and it feels strangely soothing. "It must hurt..."
I Look at her. Now is really not a good time to play around.
She then places her hand onto my cut and I see gold energy flow out of it. I look at her in shock. She knows draconium magic! I see my cut heal by sealing shut. A mark remains but the wound is closed and no longer painful. As I looked up at her. She looks dazed and weak... She almost collapses.
I grab her as she is trying to stand up. I can imagine such immense power in a tiny young body. I help her to sit against the wall.
"What did you do? What was that?" I ask her.
"I'm not a bastard... I'm... I don't really know what I am. All I know is that my parents were from the gold empire. I don't know how to use my powers... Please don't tell anyone!"
"I wont" I tell her. The gold Empire... What ever that means. No wonder why she is sheltered. She is a rare person who cannot fall into the wrong hands.
She smiles at me as she looks so tired. After resting a while she gets up and helps me clean up the kennels.
I then wake up and remember we are in the middle of the wilderness.
Sleeping rough again Aaron?" Kenneth asks. " Something must be haunting you..."
After a success with infiltrating the Chuma camp. Lei came with me and we managed to get some information. Oleander a Inclementia general knows where Iolene is... We must find her quickly!
We scaled down the steep cliff. Many of the main pathways are destroyed. It was difficult for the dragons. Especially the bull class who are large and bulky. Azalea's dragon is jumping down the cliff with ease. Those long legs bounce like springs on rocks.
Lei's replacement dragon almost falls down. All the dragons magging him with me pulling him on a rope. Poor dragon almost had a heart attack. One wrong slip he would have died.
We finally reached the bottom of the cliff. We all look up and see the magnificent Chuma city walls.
We walk around the mountain. Until we are directly beneath Chuma.
"Look!" Mali points at a large figure in rocks.
"Oh my god..." Lei says in shock. He bends down to have a closer look.
It was a green bull class dragon... Large and very dead. His head crushed from the fall. He has been dead for a while... He has bled out and he has begun decomposing.
"What a way to die..." Azalea says.
I look up at the cliff. The way the dragon fell. He must have been pushed off... It was a clean straight fall. If he was sliding down from climbing. He would make massive damage on the way down.
Kenneth, Lexiana and their dragons stand there. Not acting the same when they saw their own people dead... To them, he is an enemy...
Mali looks around the area as he gets off his dragon. He is at a nearby tree. I follow him as we find a human corpse. I look down and see that a branch has impaled him. He must have fallen into the tree.
I look at his face it seems peaceful.
"We should bury them" I suggest. I know this will take a bit of time. They at least need a burial.
It was easy digging with Lei's replacement dragon. His large chin can dig the ground with ease. He makes a large hole and we bury the dragon.
Mali waves his hand over the body. His hand glowed gold draconium. Like how Iolene cured the cut in my arm. "This man is red draconium. But tainted with green. I was wondering about his aura." Mali continues to examine his body.
Kenneth stands behind Mali and looks at the corpse.
"The man is a traitor! No normal person will go to such lengths to taint their bodies!"
"Let his body rot!" Lexiana proclaims. "He does not deserve a proper burial! Traitors get traitors burial. Which is nothing!"
"We don't know his story!" I say. "Let's just give him some dignity."
Mali looks at me and smiles. "Aaron is right. Whatever happened in his past transgressions doesn't matter now... He is dead. We should bury him..."
Lei, Murray and Azalea nod in approval. And like that, we bury him with the dragon. And we stand I quiet for a few moments. The only part of the group who walked away and waited for us are the fellow Vulkanians. They really didn't like us burying a traitor.
"Let's go," Kenneth says sternly.
We spent the day travelling around the side of the mountain. Seeing any clues of Iolene. Nothing...
Mali brings out the map.
"There is a farming village nearby. With the main travel road. And looking closely there was meant to lead to Chuma. But we obviously saw that pathway through the mountain is destroyed."
"Sounds like a plan!" Murray says enthusiastically. "I need a bath and people have hopefully seen my cousin."
We all travel on the main road. It's surprisingly busy. Now that the war is over. Merchants are travelling more freely.
We even pass Inclementia groups and they ignored us. At sunset, we reach the farming village. It's under control of the red empire.
It's peaceful here... It's like as if war didn't happen. Kenneth and Lexiana changed into their priest robes. All the red empire members bow to their presence. The captain guard comes to us.
"Welcome priests! How may we assist?" He asks.
The captain armour is beautiful. Maroon and purple designs with spikes decorating his helmet and arms.
"We are searching for a girl sir," Lexiana says.
"A girl?" The captain asks.
"Yes, we must find her as quick as possible!" Lexiana replies.
"Yes, my lady. Visit the village headman he would know more." The captain then bows to her and leads us to the mansion of the village. A large stone building. Its not palace... But it's obvious that the leader lives here.
We walk into a large room. Like many others it has a headman's seat. He looks down at us and smiles.
"Welcome priests. We are honoured by your presence. Is there anything we can do for you?"
Kenneth steps forward. "We could use your help. We are looking for a girl..."
"A girl?" The lord looks confusingly. "What does she look like?"
We all look around at each other. Last I saw Iolene she was just a little girl and I was a young boy. How would I know what she looks like now?
Murray steps forward. He gestures her height. "She is a petite fifteen-year-old girl. Golden blonde hair, pale white skin. Pretty face. Has had a rough time."
No mentioning of her eyes.
The lord sits forward as if he realises something. "Ah Iolene yes! She appeared over a week ago! She came in with a inclementian dragon. She looks dishevelled. She has been through quite an ordeal. She said that she was taken by bandits."
"She was here!" Murray says excitedly and with relief. "She survived the bandits. Thank the Magna Draconis!"
We all sigh with relief.
"She must be in the village then!" I shout out.
"She was working with Mr Winters our local doctor. But don't have your hopes up I haven't her since she has introduced herself." The village headman says as he dismisses us.
We rush off into the village. Mali, Kenneth and Murray went one way. While Lei, Lexiana, Azalea and I went another.
We asked many villagers to see if they knew her or to find Mr Winters. He owns a healing ingredient and potion shop.
"Well, here we are!" I point to the sign. I hope Iolene is here! I knock on the door.
"DON'T DISTURB ME I'M WORKING!" A cranky man shouts.
I take a few steps back. Lexiana however just opens the door and walks straight in.
"I TOLD YOU TO NOT DISTURB ME!" As a small man is trying to bandage an injured man.
"Are you Mr Winters?" Lei asks.
"Go away!" Mr Winters shouts.
Yup this must be him...
I walk up behind him as he finishes bandaging up a patient. He then turns around as if he was going to punch me. Quickly stopping as he notices how tall I am.
"Ugh... What do you want?" Mr Winters asks.
"We are looking for a girl. Iolene Summers?" I ask.
"Her? She was a nice girl... Took me a day or two to fully tolerate her. But she is willing to learn healers skills." As he walks over to his counter and takes out a jar full of dead frogs.
"Where is she?" I ask.
"She worked with me for a week. Then she disappeared... Didn't say goodbye or anything. But I know in past conversations she wanted to go to Macdan." He continues taking out a dead frog and puts it in a mortar and pestle. Crushing it into mush. "Now go away! Unlike you, I actually have work to do!"
We all walk out of his healer's shop.
"She really is making it hard for us isn't she?" Lei says. "If she stayed here a bit longer we would have found her and taken her to Macdan."
Lexiana sighs as we walk around the village. "Now what?" She says.
We stand in silence as Lei looks at Lexiana.
"Lexiana why are you and Kenneth with us?" Lei asks. It has been a burning question in my mind for a long time now.
She looks at Lei and me. "It's priest business... The gold Empire were our allies at one stage. Helping her is the least we can do after everything has happened. What about you Lei? Why are you here?"
Lei then explains what he explained to me. His mother the empress wants to right the mistakes she has made. We make small chat around the village. I am really enjoying the company of Lei and Lexi Azalea I'm not sure... Most of the time I forget she is even around. She stalks Lei as she supposed too... She is the least social person in the bunch. Even more so than me.
We eventually come across the other group. And to my not surprise Mali has gotten alcohol. He has been missing it so much for the past few weeks.
Then we all group together in the local inn. The dragons rest outside. Something they surely needed. If we didn't Iymp would make sure to make the rest of the rescue mission a nightmare.
I ordered a delicious beef pie with mash potato. With Mali and Murray paying the bill. We are all content as we eat our food. I told everyone else about Iolene. How she was here and she has run off.
Once we all finish eating. Mali places the map in the table and we all look down on it.
Mali looks around. "When we spoke to the other villagers. The bandits she was with were slaughtered."
"Slaughtered by who?" I asked. If they were slaughtered how did Iolene manage to survive?
"Inclementia soldiers... And the dragon she was with is from Inclementia..." Mali says with nervousness.
"You're kidding?" Lexiana says. "She is with the enemy?"
Mali looks serious as he stares at the map. "He could have her under mind control... Maybe biding his time. They cannot be trusted! She is in danger!"
Lei looks around as he seems more enlightened than everyone else. "The dragon probably did save her... I mean... That dragon had many chances to get her... Yet he didn't."
"Well, where is she now?" Murray says. "Why would she run away so quickly? This place is safer than anywhere else."
Iympetus Lexiana's dragon appears and puts his head through the window.
He smiles his cheeky smile. "Maybe I can start asking the dragons around here. I mean if she is with a dragon... Makes sense that I ask."
Iymp surprises me to no end. He can speak the human tongue perfectly. I am so used to seeing people under mind control. Speaking for the dragon with no will of their own. We all look at him and nod in agreement. Maybe we can get more information from the dragons. Good thing I am not doing it.
After lunch we all head out again. As Murray and Kenneth shop for supplies.
Iymp and Mali are questioning all the dragons they can find. As the dragon's roar in reply. It scares me how much I can understand their language. Maybe its because I have been in Dominus Sahara for so long. Their roars and tones. I don't fully understand. But it's like recognising words in a different language.
After a long afternoon we finally reach the large dragon paddocks behind the mansion. There are many dragons living around here. I can see the shallow holes where dragons have been digging nests.
Iymp continues questioning everyone. Until we reach a fellow red draconium dragon. Her name is Shesha. And she knows the dragon who Iolene is with!
Iymp like with many dragons asks and translates the conversation. "Shesha has met Iolene quite a few times. She is a nice girl. She will visit Beau every night like clockwork."
"Beau?" I say surprisingly. I have never heard of a dragon named that before. But is he dangerous? That is the big question.
Iymp continues on. "Beau is friendly. He has changed in personality so much since I saw him years ago."
"Why did they leave?" Lexi asks.
Iymp talks to Shesha in the dragon tongue.
"An Inclementian lord approached the paddock. Asking many questions. He attacked Beau and the girl. They fled..."
That's fantastic... Another Inclementian lord. I take a deep breathe in. The more she is left alone. The more she is in danger. I promised her that I will help her.
"Who is this lord?" Lexiana asks.
Shesha replies back to Iymp. "His name is Lord Callidus Sly. Creepy tall, thin man. Pale white skin with white long hair. He never stops smirking... He was very curious of the girl. He is a noble who closely follow his empire. Shesha overheard her human friend. The creepy lord tried to be sneaky and tried to sneak Inclementian power into the village. "
Lexiana chuckles. "Really? This village? An effort to take over this village?"
Lei looks at her. "It makes sense... This village has plenty of food and resources. Many merchants are travelling again. Inclementian's make an inch and they will go a mile. Sneaky... Very sneaky."
Lexi looks down. "I did not think of that... Sneaky bastards! Where is he!?"
"The creepy man left in defeat. However, he hasn't been seen in the village. I guess he has probably gone after them." Iymp bows his head thanking Shesha as she runs off.
"All of this for a girl? Your highness just gives up. The odds of finding her now are slim. We need to return home." Azalea asks. As she looks at Lei.
"I have a job Azalea. I will not fail... I can't fail..." Lei looks upset. He misses his home. His face says it all... If he could leave he would.
We all meet at the main village square.
Mali gathers us. "It's getting late. I suggest we sleep for the night."
Murray interrupts. " But Iolene! She is still out there!"
I look at Murray and I agree. "We have to find her! She has a week head start with a creepy guy after her. Not to mention Oleander."
Mali instantly replying. "I know... That is why we need to be at our strongest. We need proper rest as well. The dragons can regain energy. We will leave just before light."
Walking back to the inn. They managed to give us rooms. Their business is beginning to boom again.
While Murray and Mali make the arrangements I stand around with Lexi and Lei.
Lexi takes off her helmet while Lexi is giving me a seducing look. A look that Keyra used to give me. And it has been quite a few months since I have had sex. I had no idea that she could be that kind of woman...
Lei is looking at me and Lexi. He is perplexed of what is happening. I am not surprised... He told me a secret. He only loves men... I will keep that secret to my grave. I knew men from my barrack who only loved other men. Dangerous if our dragon overlords found out. So that subject is not new to me.
Mali walks over to us. "Alright... We managed to get a few beds. But you lot are going to have to share. Kenneth, Murray and I are going to mansion to see if we can rest there. All the beds are now taken. The dragons are now being tended too. So they should be in top shape before we leave. Rest easy for tonight. That means you too Aaron... No prolonged stay-ups or walks."
I nod in agreement. Lexi taps my left shoulder. And whispers in my ear.
"So... We need to share beds. Azalea will be with Lei, while Kenneth my master will be heading to the mansion. Little quiet me will not be around while he is gone. And I am bored..." Lexiana showing a wide grin. She is stroking my arm. Looks like her main personality is coming out.
The sun begins to set. Lei and Azalea go into one room. Where Lexi and I go into another.
She sighs and stretches. "Finally I can be myself and not apprentice me!" She then quickly undresses and lies on the bed.
"I have so many questions..." I say.
"What? Quiet me not so quiet? I am only like that with Kenneth is around. Come on lets play!" She then pats the bed as she is lying there seductively.
She is pretty! Long straight black hair, Light brown skin and now noticing her bright red eyes. They're glowing with passion.
I will be lying to myself if I wasn't tempted. But now is not the time... I need to rescue Iolene! My oldest friend is in danger. In the wilderness, alone... With a dangerous dragon. With people after her.
"What is your story Lexi?" I ask. The sudden change in personality has me on edge.
"Oh, it's simple really... I joined the army, I was chosen. Now here I am!" She then starts twirling her finger on the covers. "I like Kenneth I do... He is far less strict than the other priests. Thank the magna draconis for that! But... He is still a priest. And still has a protocol."
"And I guess you don't care for that?" I ask. Mali is a priest as well and acts in some similar behaviours. Being secretive a big one.
"I do sort off... It's just... Being a priest is emotionally taxing. You have no time being yourself. You're a slave... You must know what that's like."
"Yes, I do..." As I walk closer to the bed. She is staring at me like a predator trying to catch its prey. It's tempting. Her being naked certainly makes it easier for her to allure.
"The only difference between us Lexi. Is that you know what you are... I don't know what I am." I tell her. Its the truth. I don't know what I am... What am I to myself?
She loses her smile. "You're handsome you know that? You can have the world on the palm of your hand. You are not in Dominus Sahara anymore. You can do what you want!"
In a slow manner, she gets off the bed and walks to me. She tends to forget I am under Mali's service. Even though he is a friend. I owe him so much. A debt that I can never repay.
"Come on... Aaron. We can be friends and do this. It's not my first time... Don't worry I've drunken the tea and you relieve yourself. Just tonight and we don't speak of it. Unless it's amazing... Then I would probably want more. But I am not a fan of doing it in the wilderness... Make me feel like how a woman should feel!"
I chuckle. It's only a night... Just one night. A moment of distraction. A moment I also need... No Mali, no enslavers, I am in an unfamiliar country. And like that my lips connected to Lexi's lips and kiss her repeatedly on the neck. And before I knew it, we are entangled together underneath the sheets.
It felt so good. Even though I know its fleeting. Lexiana's body is so warm. Hotter than the average human. You would think she has a fever but she clearly doesn't... She is rubbing me and messing my newly grown hair.
The kissing and motions. Lexi is clearly enjoying this. I can easily go on all night. And I notice Lexi probably can. I notice she has the strength that surpasses a normal human. We stop for a period as Lexi looks at my scars all around my body.
"Wow..." She whispers. "I bet each scar has a story attached. Your face is so pure and clean. Until you look underneath your clothes you are scarred. A you that no one normally sees. What about this scar?" She points to my scar on my arm. The one that Iolene healed... I tell her no... She is right many of my injuries have a story to tell. But I am not ready to tell them... And it reminds me that I need to save Iolene. And I'm here warm in bed.
I notice Lexi is getting sleepy. I let her go as she begins to fall asleep.
I laid there awake. I couldn't sleep. I fear that my memories will plague me again. I woke her up once I noticed dawn is approaching. She gets up and dresses into her normal clothes. She then kisses me on the cheek.
"Thank you for last night. You really did make me feel like a woman, better than most. You're experienced. Last night felt amazing. I really needed it!" She then kisses my cheek again and leaves the room.
I am confused... Why do I feel regret? It was good. But... It felt the same as Keyra. I am missing something. Keyra and I were only friends and we had sex to make each other feel better. Our circumstances are horrible as we had nothing else. Just each other...
I walk out of the room and knock on Lei's door. He smiles a tired smile. He is annoyed about something.
"Had a good sleep?" I ask sheepishly.
"Well yes, Azalea and I did Aaron... It was great hearing moaning, with the bed banging the wall. While you and lady Lexi saying each other's names RIGHT NEXT DOOR!" Lei shouting at the end. I bite my lip in awkwardness. Lei then grabs my shirt and pulls me inside his room.
"Seriously... You had sex with priestess Lexiana? You and her in a room! And then bam! Sex? What were YOU THINKING!? " Lei points out at me. Azalea is giggling as she sat on the bed.
"I wasn't... But it felt good." I say nervously. I was not expecting this kind of reaction from someone else.
Lei crosses his arms in annoyance. "What's going to happen if she becomes pregnant! Do you have a habit of bedding women!? Cause that's dangerous!"
Lexiana bursts into the room. "How unlike you Lei. Being so annoyed! Keep it down. I needed the distraction all right! I have measures of not becoming pregnant. And I don't need you telling us whom we can and cannot have sex with."
He sighs in defeat. "Are you two in love?" Lei asks as he looks at me. I feel for him... He cannot love a woman as I can. And he is from a very traditional family. I cannot imagine having sex just for the sake of it as a normal occurrence. Lexiana and I both nod no in response. Lexiana does not know his circumstances. I hope she goes easy on him...
Lei looks down. "Sorry... I didn't mean to cause offence. My people are usually incredibly quiet about their night activities. We have other critical issues at hand." As Lei blushes and shies away. As Lexiana's angry face softens. It was quiet amongst us for a while.
Azalea packs Lei's bag and we leave the inn. Their dragons waiting at the stable and are excited. I can overhear Iymp making a comment about my walking pace. Apparently, I have a skip in my step. She is trying her hardest not to smile at me. Everyone gets on their dragons and we travel to the mansion. Mali, Murray, and Kenneth are waiting for us.
"Good. We are ready to go." As Kenneth gets on his dragon saddle. Lexi winks me as we journey forward. The sun is now beginning to show its face. I shake my head as I cannot get distracted again. I need to find Iolene.
I'm sorry Iolene I am on my way! Please be safe!
