Chapter Eleven: The Unexpected

Aaron stretches his daily exercises as everyone prepares for another day of travel. Keeping guard for the whole group during the night.

Beau and Iymp yawn as they shake themselves awake.

"We shall be off!" Lei says with enthusiasm. Ponderrah shrieks with excitement as everyone jumps on their dragons except for Aaron as he runs on his own.

Lexi and Iymp are already moving "What is next Lei? Looks like we are at the edge of the rice fields."

"Next is the town of Khuurai… Should be a day's ride away… Then after that, we shall restock at the city of Shenghou. Then we will divert away from the usual paths… For we shall go closer to enemy lines… Our armies and the Light Blue Empires' navy are doing well, we have pushed them back."

"That's good," Lexi says with enthusiasm.

Okimi remains silent as nervousness takes over her. She smiles and nods.

They race off at full speed. Aaron smiles as he runs next to Beau. The dragon glances at Aaron next to him and smiles in return and runs faster. Aaron pushes forward as they race ahead of everyone else. Beau is still amazed how Aaron could easily keep up. Eventually, the rest of the group become dots behind them.

Aaron however realizes he cannot keep up as much as Beau. He slows down after racing for five minutes.

"All right Beau you win!" As Aaron stops to take a breather. Everyone else is walking at an even pace so they are far behind. Beau turns around and waits with Aaron, sitting next to him. It was quiet… And beautiful for a country in war. The light shone green from the trees. Butterflies flying to sit on the beautiful flowers that guide the path.

"What is the far north like?" Aaron asks breaking the silence.

Beau looks down at Aaron and smiles. He gently growls trying to reply. I know he can't understand me, but it's worth a try. It was once beautiful, we were hidden for years. The north became cold and barren as the once lush forests died. I wonder how my herd is doing? Are they safe, did they find a new haven? My mother and my sister? Myshka? Is she still alive? I know mother in my heart wouldn't have minded the change. Father and brother would have fought me. To mar me or maybe even kill me… Beau's heart sank. Dread-filled him as he didn't know what to do. To lie about what I have become… Keeping up this appearance is exhausting after a while. Feeling like I am running on half of my energy. But what else can I do?

Beau looks down and sees Aaron staring at him. His gold eyes glowing, he is curious. The dragon smiles as Aaron softly grins back.

"You are very sad…" Aaron says delicately. Beau's smile disappears as he looks at the ground.

As Aaron and Beau rest ahead Okimi ride with Lexi and Iymp. Okimi holds onto Lexi waist.

"How did my life come to being a protector for princesses?" Lexi chortles.

"I am not a princess" Okimi softly replies. "By technicality, I don't have a term. Jona is Daimyo and that is the main title of the south. Pretty much the second most powerful leader, without being called an Emperor. No princesses, princes, dukes or duchesses… I'm heir on paper and on behalf of the Empress… But I have a younger brother. By ancient law, he is before me… Is it true in the Red Empire that women rule?"

"Yes, it is. Our country was mainly matrilineal primogeniture, but for the past five hundred years. The Empire will pass to the oldest of the family, girl or boy."

"That sounds so easy and amazing." Okimi laughs. "Can I live there?"

"It's tropical, humid with many volcanoes! And we are repairing from our last war. So home is still chaotic."

"Less chaotic than here, our war has begun." Okimi looks up to the leaf canopy. "Much less chaotic…"

Lei is overhearing their conversation and frowns. Poor Okimi… Lei remains quiet as the women have a fun conversation. He quickly rubs Ponderrahs head. He is doing so well! The small blue dragon didn't want to leave Lei. He shrieked nonstop until Beau and Iymp said they will help take care of him. He is blind but has an amazing sense of hearing and touch. Beau and Iymp made sure before we left that he can cope. After all, he is only blind and can't speak, not stupid.

"Yada, yada, yada… Can you get to the part about the volcanic orgies? Your country's one redeeming feature." Fred blurts out.

"We don't do that?!" Lexi shouts. "But you are probably referring to the turquoise nobles, who did that on sacred ground… They were lucky to leave with their heads."

Okimi looks surprised and tries her hardest not to laugh.

"Really? That's disappointing I love a good orgy…" Fred sighs and stretches his back.

"Disgusting…" Okimi whispers.

"He is…" Lexi whispers back.

Iymp scoffs underneath the women and without notice races off to reach Beau and Aaron. Lei decides to chase after them leaving Fred and Duryss behind.

"Assholes!" Duryss shouts as they knew he couldn't keep up due to him being a bull class dragon. He runs to try and keep up but is quickly slowed down with exhaustion. "Eh… Fuck them Duryss we will catch up eventually…"

Duryss snorts so loud a dust cloud forms. "Good thing we are going to get paid…"

It was a while until Lei and Lexi reached Aaron and Beau sitting on the side of the path.

"So who won?" Lei asked excitedly.

"Beau did." Aaron chuckles as he and Beau stand up.

All of a sudden a noise can be heard from the bushes. Aaron unsheathes his new great sword. Beau growls and stands defensively.

"What's going on?" Lei asks worryingly. Ponderrah scratches the ground and squeaks.

Lexi does the same and unsheathes her large battle axe. Okimi grabs out her Katana and Wakizashi. Weapons she has concealed underneath her large cloak. Lexi smiles the weapons are beautiful. The swords are thin the Katana is much longer than the smaller sword.

"Wow…" Is all everyone could say.

"Aren't those swords meant to be for Jona and his guards? Not to mention you are a woman." Lei asks.

"Yes…" She says slyly with a large grin. "I am already an enemy of the state. I had them commissioned by the Empress." The conversation quickly cuts off as a dragon rushes out of the bushes.

Beau rams into him causing the dragon to fall over. He is riderless, a blue dragon that looks similar to much of his kind. He is panicked, without thought or growls the dragon runs away.

It was at this moment Duryss and Fred caught up watching the dragon run away.

"Pfft… You are all afraid of that stick dragon running away!" He laughs as a large beast emerges from the bushes.

Everyone jumps backwards as Fred screams. "WHAT IS THAT?!" And waves his massive hammer at it, missing every swipe.

The massive creature looked like a distorted dragon. Its body is large and round similar to a bull class. The colours mesh with blue, purple and black. However, instead of muscle, it looks like tumours.

Lei has never seen such a creature like that before. His mouth agape as his heart accelerates.

Iymps look of complete disgust as the creature wails in front of him. He jumps backwards quickly protecting Lexi and Okimi. Okimi holds onto Lexi's waist tightly and shrieks, trying not to fall off.

Aaron looks at the creature with complete shock. He stands still and breathes heavily. Beau looks at Aaron and nudges him gently. Aaron stands still as he was like a statue. He didn't even feel the nudge.

I remember only glimpses… To make my Iqosha training complete I was chosen. I completed my final trial… It destroyed me… I didn't want to do it and neither did he… But we both knew we had no choice. I refrained, but he kept going. After the deed was done. I was taken away to a place I didn't know. I have no idea where… I lost track of time. The place was cold… The shrieking sounds are so familiar. A noise embedded in my subconscious. The pain… The burning pain… The agony. Why is everything so foggy?! Why am I so afraid?!

Aaron shakes his head as he sees the creature wailing. With a wave of his sword, he skewers his sword into the creature's head. Everyone shrieks as it collapses ceasing movement.

Everyone stares at Aaron except Ponderrah who stares in the other direction.

"The dragon was suffering…" Is all Aaron says.

"THAT THING WAS A DRAGON!?" Duryss shouts.

Beau walks over and tries to nudge the poor creature.

"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Aaron shouts.

Beau stops and looks at Aaron with annoyance. No one dares tell me what to do. Looking back down the pussy creature spurts out black draconium. The limbs twitch as everyone couldn't help but jump back in disgust.

Beau shudders, not knowing what could possibly cause this. Could I have ended like this? Beau remembers the intense pain… It must have been worse for this poor creature.

"How… What?" Is all Lexi could whisper.

"It's going to get worse the closer we get to Unmei." Aaron says as seriously as he could. "Could Jona be experimenting in Unmei?"

"I don't know…" Is all Okimi could say. She has never seen such a thing in all her life. But one thing she did know is that her father will do everything in his power to win.

Due to the massive creature and uncertainty of its nature. It could not be buried and Aaron says especially not to touch it. Aaron however places flowers on the dragons' corpse. The flowers wilt and die as if placed in acid.

"How sad…" Iymp says as he roars in mourning. Beau and Ponderrah do the same. Even though Ponderrah shrieks, he tries his best to sound like a normal dragon.

"Come on it is time to go… We have a daimyo to kill." Lei then leads the group away.

It was a whole day when they reached Khuurai. To everyone's surprise, Khuurai is massive for a village. Being one of the largest towns in the Blue Empire.

"What a dump…" Fred saying without filter.

Lei rolls his eyes and ignores him. A habit everyone is quickly developing.

Iymp yawns and scratches the ground. "We all need to rest up and we need to resupply the dragon food. But this time we better triple the supplies and Duryss can carry it all."

"Hmph." Is all Duryss says. "So that's why the mouse asked me to go…"

Lei points to a large building "Here is a dragon hospital, one of the best in the world. The dragons will be looked after here for the time being."

The dragons look at the massive line of dragons waiting. They all sigh and look at Lei. He gestures for them to go. Beau hesitantly looks back at Aaron.

"Go you'll be fine! Get your feet checked up." Aaron chortles.

Beau follows the other dragons as they line up and wait.

Aaron sharpens his new sword and admires it by holding it high. He can see his reflection perfectly on the blade. He smiles with pride. He doesn't want to use such a beautiful blade… It deserves to be placed on a beautiful mantle above a fireplace to be admired by guests. Too bad I have no such thing…

"That is a beautiful blade!" Okimi says kindly. "The dragon hilt looks like Beau, it reminds me of old illustrations drawn in the books from the Gold Empire."

"It was a gift From Mali and Iolene… I guess Iolene is very influenced by Beau." Aaron smiles.

"So Aaron, I am curious, what is your story Iolene." Okimi asks shyly.

Aaron speaks of his past with Iolene.

"Oh" Is all Okimi says with a neutral expression.

They are interrupted when they heard people clapping as Lexi swings her freshly sharpened battle-axe. With her powers she sets it alight, getting the attention and admiration from other soldiers. She slices many training dummies in half like butter.

Aaron decides to follow suit and slices the dummies. Not as flashy or fiery as Lexi but he is cutting them like cutting twigs.

Lei smiles as he sees the two preparing to fight. He is nowhere near as good as they are. Grabbing his spear he joins in dismantling a dummy like the other two.

Aaron, Okimi and Lexi smile as they pause to watch him.

"Your form has greatly improved!" Lexi says happily as they clap and Lei bows.

Later in the night, they decide to stay at an inn. As the inns are crowded everyone sleeps on the floor. Lei trying to remain low and not stay at Minh Lahns' home. Minh is the City elder who oversees Khuurai. Living in luxury that oversees the town. Lei decided he needs to get re-used to sleep with minimal comfort.

After a restful night's sleep, the morning became devastating as a summer thunderstorm rips through the region.

"DAMMIT!" Lei says in frustration as Aaron looks out the window. Wind blowing so hard and fast large the trees are bending to its will.

One day eventually became a week as the storm violently attacks the town. This is devastating to Lei as many soldiers cannot travel in these conditions. The war would have come to a grinding halt. There would have been no doubt that people and dragons homes would have been destroyed or even lives lost… Lei can only hope that the south could have also been hit by the storm. Otherwise that wouldn't have been fair at all.

"Well… This is going well…" Fred says as he eats a dragon fruit.

Okimi is teaching Aaron and Lexi how to play Janken.

Lei sighs as this is not a good start to his mission. The inn is overly crowded as people hide from the storm. The place stank as body odour and urine can be smelt everywhere.

But with relief, the storm subsides and with refreshed supplies, they leave to continue to Unmei.