Sorry that I'm only posting one chapter today. I've just had a really busy day with several tests plus several projects that are due soon. Today has just been chaotic. Last thing, once I get back to my computer, if I'm lucky, I might be able to get out 2-3 chapters.
The screen showed Rayla keeping watch and tugging at her binding.
Rayla: Unbind yourself. Unbind...thyself.Unbindo!Don't judge me. So what, I'm talking to my ribbom-thing? How is that any worse than talking to a... whatever it is you are?
"Oh great. This is one day I would prefer not to relive." Rayla said dryly.
Opeli: A funeral so soon is madness. It is tradition to mourn a fallen king for seven sunsets. You've not even given him one.
Viren: I understand your concern, Opeli, but in a time of war, we must move forward.
Claudia: Hey, keep your head up.
Soren: Ugh, sorry. Long night.
Claudia: Drink this. I call it "hot brown morning potion."
Soren: That's good.
Viren: Today we woke with a devastating truth. Our king has been taken from us. Slain by the forces of Xadia, vile Moonshadow elves. To me, he was more than a king. In his final hours, Harrow called me... his brother.
"We went because the humans killed the Dragon King and we were ordered to." Rayla said.
"Wait, you were ordered by the Queen of the Dragons herself?" Amaya asked.
"Yeah, she came to the clearing just outside the Silvergrove." Rayla said.
"That must have been terrifying to see a really mad dragon." Callum said.
"Well, I never saw her, but Runaan was pretty pale and terrified when he came back." Rayla said.
"I was terrified enough to show it?" Runaan asked.
Rayla nodded.
Opeli: Wait. Where are the princes? They have to be here.
Viren: The princes... are dead. We cannot let Xadia's cruelty go unanswered. We must move forward with strength. Light the pyre.
Opeli: No.
Viren: Claudia. When a ruler of Katolis dies, we mourn for seven days. But we are at war. Today we must mourn sevenfold...for tonight, there will be a coronation.
Rayla: Callum. Callum. Hey! That's your name right? Callum? Clem? Or was it Camel?
Callum: Uh, it's Callum. I guess I was just distracted trying to draw this...prima-ball.
Rayla: Primal stone.
Callum: Right. It hold the pure essence of a primal spirit inside.
Rayla: Primal source.
Callum: Right.
Rayla: You do know what the Six Primal Sources are?
Callum: Uh, if I say yes, are you gonna make me name them?
Rayla: Ugh. All magic in the world comes from Primal Sources. They're the original and purest forms of magical energy. The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Earth, the Ocean, and...
Callum: The Sky.
Rayla: Yes. To cast a spell, a mage needs Primal Energy. So that wind breath spell you did. You'd usually need a storm or a strong breeze. But with that stone, you have all the power of the sky, any time.
Callum: Wow.
Rayla: Primal Stones are incredibly rare. They've been sought after by the most powerful arch-mages in history. And now, somehow you have one.
"That was a great explanation on how it works." Ethari said.
"Thanks, just don't forget he has the stone." Rayla said.
Callum: Wait, I...I've seen these before. At the Banther Lodge. There was this little cube thing. And it had these exact symbols on it.
Rayla: Uh, neat.
Callum: What if it's magic? We have to go get it.
Rayla: Wait, what? We have real problems to worry about. Ending the war. Taking the dragon egg the Xadia. Remember.
Callum: Xadia's to the east, right? So is the lodge. It's on the way.
Rayla: Oh, great. I'm sure it won't be crawling withhumans. Humans that are looking for you and want to kill me! Yay!
Callum: No, it's the winter lodge. It's been empty for months. Trust me. Look.. Rayla. Princes are supposed to be good at things. Uh, sword fighting, leadership...riding horses. But I've always been kind of bad at well, everything. So, when I tried that spell, I was sure I'd end up on fire or covered in spiders... but it worked. And then you called me a mage, and that..felt...right. I...I just have this feeling that cube thing could help me.
"Rayla, please tell me it's worth it." Runaan said.
"I think it was. I mean, we only ever got one side to glow, but it was neat." Rayla said.
"What is it?" Amaya signed.
"I'm sure it'll be mentioned somewhere. If it isn't, then I'll tell you." Rayla said.
Ezran: Callum? I had a wierd dream.
Callum: It wasn't a dream, Ez. All of that was real.
Ezran: Are you sure? There was this giant pink hippopotamus and I pulled its ear off. Because it was made of taffy.
"That sounds like a great dream!" Sarai said.
"To bad you never shared your jelly tarts." Amaya signed.
Callum: Uh...no. That was a dream. I thought you meant the elves, the smoke wolves, the dragon egg. That was all real.
Ezran: Then I tried to thank the hippo for the taffy, but he couldn't hear me, because I was eating his ears.
Rayla: Hey, sad prince. Let's go get your cube.
Callum: Really?
Rayla: Yes. Just no more detours, all right? Or heartfelt speeches.
Ezran: Hey, guys can we--
Rayla: We're not stopping yet.
Ezran: But I'm--
Rayla: No, snacks.
Ezran: I was going to say thirsty.
Rayla: Fine. Drink this.
Callum: Oh, no, thank you. We don't drink... that.
Rayla: What?
Callum: Blood. We don't drink blood. We don't mean to be rude, but, uh, you can keep it.
"Where did he hear that we drink blood?" Tiadrin asked angrily.
"I don't know. Probably some horror story about elves. Remember, we had those kind of stories about humans as well." Rayla said.
Rayla: It's Moonberry juice. Is that what humans think we are? Bloodthirsty monsters?
Callum: No, no, no. It...its not that. I mean, I...I have heard stories, but... but I'm sure they're just stories. Horrible, awful stories. Oh, look at that, we're here. See? No winter, no humans at the winter lodge.
Rayla: Let's just make this quick. Tell me where the thing is, and I'll be in and out.
Callum: Okay, so this is the game room. Cube should be in there. Like I said, no winter, no humans. Right?
Ezran: Yeah, but it is kind of weird there's no one here... since this is where Dad was sending us.
Callum: Yeah, we probably shouldn't have come here.
Ezran: Aunt Amaya?
Amaya: I'm so glad to see both of you safe.
Callum: Extremely safe! Safe and...alone. Oh, uh, that door's locked. So, uh, you wait here for a minute, couple minutes, few...However long ittakes. I'll go find a key.
Amaya: I don't believe in locks. Someone's here.
Callum: What? No, no. No one here but us and all your human troops!
Amaya: Callum, you know it doesn't help to yell. And why are you saying "human troops" like that?
Callum: What do you mean? That's how I always say "heavily armed human troops!" Uh, Ezran has something to tell you.
Ezran: Um, I...skipped breakfast. I'm sorry.
Amaya: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. The food here is...weapons-grade. Dig in.
"Yeah, I know that. It cracked a rock in half when I dropped it." Rayla said.
"Definitely weapons-grade." Sarai said.
Callum: Aunt Amaya, why are you here?
Amaya: I received a messenger bird from the King yesterday.
Gren: What's wrong?
Callum: I just... He gave me a letter, too, but I must have dropped it somewhere. What'd your letter say? "General, the castle is under threat. Assassins have infiltrated the kingdom. Moonshadow elves."
Amaya: The worst kind.
"Yeah, but Sunfire elves are just fine." Rayla said sarcastically.
"What are you talking about?" Amaya signed while Rayla smirked.
"You'll see." Rayla said.
Callum: "Do not bring your forces to the castle. Your orders are to proceed immediately to the Banter Lodge. Callum and Ezran will be there. Above all, see to it that my sons are safe."
Amaya: Wait, there's more on the back.
Callum: "PS: Once there safety is assured, the boys may wish to build a dirt man." We do not wish to build a dirt man.
Ezran: We do not.
Amaya: You're safe now, boys.
Callum: This is all my fault. We should never have come here.
Ezran: But we found Aunt Amaya. Maybe we should tell her, Callum.
Callum: Tell her what?
Ezran: About the egg... and Rayla.
Callum: We can't. Didn't you hear what she said? How she talked about elves? To Aunt Amaya, elves are monsters.
Ezran: But if we just explain everything.
Callum: It won't work. Humans and elves don't trust each other. That won't change until we take this egg back into Xadia. We have to find Rayla and get out if here.
Rayla: "It's the winter lodge Rayla. No winter, no humans." It's okay. Huh.
Then a short fight scene plays and Rayla is pinned to the wall by Amaya's shield.
Gren: General Amaya! The princes have disappeared!
Then the screen went black as Amaya knocked out Rayla.
"Rayla. Were you okay after that?" Ethari asked.
" I was fine. I still would prefer to forget about that day. It wasn't really good." Rayla said.
Next part will come out tomorrow. Sorry about how late it is.