Chapter Ten: To Run Away

Iolene looks outside the palace window in her room. They have been travelling for a day... I hope they did not go too far... Iolene turns around and looks at her bags hidden underneath the bed.

For the past week, like the others, I have been preparing. The Empress couldn't spare a healer as many are in the battle and the few who remain are to look after the citizens. She warned them of this... But Lei insisted to leave. Reckless really... But do not fret my friend. I will make my way to you.

Eleya walks into the room with dinner. The food rations have become more strict. Rice and a few bits of fish. Better than nothing... Still delicious. I have seen people starve in the hospital here. A horrible way to die. I hope the war ends soon...

Eleya grabs a brush and begins to brush Iolenes hair.

"It has gotten so long my lady. So beautiful... Like real gold. Would you like to put it in two side buns?"

"Yes please Eleya." Iolene smiles. It feels so nice... Iolene has pride in her hair. She looks in the mirror as Eleya learned how to do the hairstyles of the blue empire.

"Thank you Eleya it looks beautiful as always."

"Knock knock!" Mali says out loud.

"Come in Mali!" Iolene announces.

The man walks in confidently. "Night check-up. As always... To make sure you are okay."

"I am fine Mali... Thank you..." Iolene gets up and walks to the little man. Wearing a silk dress covered in a kimono, Mali looks at her surprised she looks like a woman.

"By the draconis you are so beautiful... Like your mother, you are so radiant... But you have the gold hair of your father. May I touch your hair?"

Iolene didn't know what to think. She cocks her head. "Sure..." She kneels down to his level. He strokes her hair gently and with a sudden pull he takes a few strands of her hair.

"OW! What was that for Mali!"

"I'm going to test it!" He yells out jokingly. As he holds the hair strand in his fingers. Iolene shifts her eyes up and down at him without saying any words for a few seconds. With a sudden move, he pulls out a few more.

"OW MALI!" She shouts and slaps his arm as he laughs. "Why do you want to test my hair!? It's just hair!" Rubbing her head avoiding her freshly made buns.

"Well, my lady! I don't think so... I think your hair is made out of gold draconium."

"Really how?" Iolene asks.

"Well like Beau who is mutated into gold draconium he now has it in his bones and scales. You have gold eyes... Aaron now has gold eyes after his mutation. But sometimes draconium can be more revealing to humans than what people think... Mainly in eyes, hair and nails."

Iolene looks at her fingers. They're just ordinary nails... Nothing unique about them.

"Lexi used to have black hair, normal nails and brown eyes before living in the temple of Vulkania. But living in the temple and training she now has red eyes, nails and crimson hair." He continues smiling as he places the hair inside a small box. "I shall test it..."

Iolene stands up and straightens her outfit. "Okay... What if my hair is unique? What is going to happen then? They made me dye it before... Was that why?"

"I dunno... We could help enhance gear and weapons..."

Iolene chuckles "Uh, what?"

"The darkest parts of history Iolene... Even from your ancestors. There used to be a cult who will take bones from dragons AND humans to make gear and weapons."

Iolene stumbles backwards to sit on the bed. "I have never heard of such a thing..."

"Immense cruelty... And that cult was cursed. I will tell more of the story another day." Mali saying seriously. "But during the purge of Loan, many of our priests had that fate... Not only are you royalty. But you have bodily materials they also desire. This is why many are protective of you..."

Iolene looks down at her hands. Her hands trembling. Imagining her fingers being pulled off one by one. She claps her hands together to shake the thought. I am terrified... So scared... But everyone else is fighting as well. Beau a gold dragon is away to fight. But then Stein has no control over him... He is a wild dragon, he does as he pleases. And interestingly enough Stein respects that...

"That is enough horror stories for now. Well now it is getting late, time for bed my lady. I shall wake you up tomorrow morning."

Iolene jumps onto the bed as Eleya covers her with the blankets. "Good night Mali." As she pretends to go to sleep.

Mali and Eleya leave blowing out the candles. Leaving only the moon being the only light. Iolene lies on her bed for an hour as she gets up quietly as possible. However, she quickly jumps onto the bed again as she heard the wooden floors creak outside her room. The door opens. It is Stein... Iolenes heart skips beats as she holds onto her tears. Akvor... He used to do that... Then that night he attacked me... Iolene shudders at the memory. It felt so long ago... But not long enough.

Stein closes the door as he can be heard whispering to someone and then walking away. Iolene gets up as she sneaks to the door. A shadow can be seen since the hall is still lit with candles. A guard... Of course...

She looks at the window, it was locked from the inside and outside. However, Iolene dismantled the locks using her draconium magic. Even as an extra measure she managed to get oil to make sure the window doesn't creak.

Tiptoeing she grabs herself a simple blue dress and then covers herself with a kimono so she doesn't stand out fashion-wise. It is not that fashionable... But it will have to do. Undoing her large hair buns her gold hair flows down. Then replacing her hairstyle with a simple ponytail. Iolene sighs as she then covers her hair with a light blue shawl.

Crawling underneath the bed she grabs her large satchel, checking everything. Repleo quill, my journal, dried food and rice, mermaid dagger, spare clothes, blood cloths, needles, bandages, salves and herbs. Iolene admires her work of managing to fit so much in her large bag.

"Oh! Yes... " Iolene goes under the bed and grabs bows and arrows. Iolene smiled as she stole them from the training arena.

With a sudden thought, she glances at her box full of her mother's letters. She felt braver as she opens it, as she kisses and hugs one of the letters. Wish me, luck mother... I want to be as brave as you... She then places the letter back inside and closes it.

"Right... The last step" whispering to herself as she places extra pillows from other rooms on the bed to make it look like she is asleep. Walking over to the window anxiously opened it and looks down. She felt like she was going to vomit. I can do this... I can do this... I CAN DO THIS! The windowsill is large but she has to be careful, taking one step at a time. Trying her hardest not to look down. It wasn't long until she came across the neighbors' window. Iolene swallows convulsively as she crawls and shuffles across, trying her best to remain quiet. The palace is ancient, but it is good that the building is kept in good condition.

It felt like forever until she reached the end of the line. Looking down she is a few levels high. Quickly realising she cannot jump off. That is an excellent way to break a limb... Iolene slowly and carefully climbs down to a lower level balcony. Slamming onto the ground and accidentally screaming like a mouse. Placing her hand over her mouth she Breathes slowly to catch her breath. I am doing well!

"Did you hear that?"

Iolene's heart stops as she heard an unfamiliar woman's voice. Looking behind she notices the room is dimly lit. Only two candles can be seen glowing through the curtains.

"I heard nothing, Don't stop." A man speaks as kissing and moans can be heard. Iolenes eyes widen as she climbs onto the balcony ledge. Glancing down, still to high to jump down to the ground... But noticing another balcony she jumps and clumsily falls almost hitting her head.

"Owww." She gasps as she tries to get up. Her knees and hands are scraped. Her arrows fall on the floor.

"Dammit!" she whispers and groans as she picks them up. However, Iolene hears a groan from the room. Getting up she climbs over the balcony. I am almost at the ground floor! She thinks to herself excitedly. Looking to her left she sees a Biru tree, jumping off the building she jumps onto a branch. However, she misjudged the branch if it can hold her weight. The branch snaps! And with a sudden motion, Iolene falls into the bushes below. Iolene sits up as she double checks everything is intact. Rubbing her head she can feel twigs and leaves entangled in her hair. She scrunches her face in annoyance, knowing she will have to fix it later.

Sighing as she then realises she damaged a priceless Biru tree. Iolenes inner panic skyrockets. "Oh no... Oh, no, no, no, no..." She whispers jumping out of the bushes and breathing slowly. After that quiet moment, she runs. There is no turning back now!

Taking the long route managing to avoid guards by hiding behind objects. However, the palace gate was going to be hard to pass. Guards are always there and they know her face. But by luck she sees a carriage carrying supplies. Many travel in the dead of night as the night is dangerous to remain in one spot. Iolene sneaks into the weapons stash and hides under a tarp. The carriage moves through the gates. Iolene listens intently to the men driving the carriage.

"We have our orders, we go to the rice farmers of Salm, to the village of Khuurai, then south to the smaller city of Shenghuo."

Salm... Lei has mentioned that! And then Khuurai! Iolene smiles she is on her way! Before she knew it, she is now out of the city limits. The carriage dragons are fast as they run full speed down the road. Iolene holds to the carriage for dear life as the carriage rocks side to side.

Hours later the sun rises the beauty of the forests of Lan-Se is on full display. Lifting the tarp to glimpse at the magnificence of it all... It was looking at a stream of water she needed to relieve herself. Oh, dear... In a panic she finds a bucket to relieve herself and empty it over the side.

The men driving the carriage are enjoying themselves. Speaking of their families and home. The dragons' roar as to speak in the conversation. She couldn't help but smile. But it vanishes as she thinks that Eleya would find her missing by now.

"Sir I have weapons straight from the palace! Ready for use for the front lines!"

"Ah! Yes!" The man shouts back.

Iolene tenses up as she is right where the weapons are. Her breath stops for moments. Shuffling she lifts the tarp, no one is around... She slides out onto the ground. Running to the other side. No one saw... She sighs. She looks around the rice villages of Salma to get her bearings.

Beautiful, not quiet. As many soldiers are training. I need to catch up with them... And fast... Iolene races to the other side of the village. Many soldiers are leaving to fight. Iolene rushes over to one of the military parties.

"Miss? Are you lost?" A young man asks her.

She turns around and sees a rather handsome man. Much older than her his features except his face are covered with armour.

"I am a healer. I am sent from the city of Lan-Se to help. But I need to find a certain group of people. Have you seen a red priestess on your travels?"

"I have miss... But where they are heading is not a safe place to go. A young lady like you doesn't belong there." He says kindly.

"They need me, sir... Please... I need to get to them. They need a healer, the Empress has sent me to aid." Iolene grabs out a special token that is a medallion of the Empire sigil of the lightning bolt. The special Empress clearance so she can walk anywhere in the palace without Lei. "I hope to meet them in Khuurai may we please make haste!"

The man nods as he guides Iolene to his travelling caravan.