Chapter Twenty-Six: To leave Unmei

The sun rises on a devastated city. It has been a week since the collapse. Reports of guards have proclaimed that the Emperor and his family have been found. Buried underneath the rubble of Heiwa palace. The autopsies found they died before the collapse and had deep stab wounds in the heart. Okimi was found soon after... She was easily found as the culprit. Also by eyewitness accounts of guards seeing her. Those guards were sentenced to prison for their leniency. Okimi's body was hung high where the palace once stood. Her body is scratched, swollen, broken, and tarnished. You could not recognise her. The citizens of Unmei threw objects at her. Mass crowds gathered every day to hurt her corpse.

Iolene cried and wiped tears from her eyes. Okimi is dead... So the only thing these people can do is disrespect her body. There was nothing she could do. She wanted to race up onto the platform and cut the rope freeing Okimi. But that will only turn the crowd against her and she will be next.

"Iolene..." Lexi says grabbing her hand. "Let's go..." Lexi wipes tears from her eyes. It was just them two for the moment. Mali trusts Lexi to look after her. They have been living in alleyways changing from street to street every day in various parts of the city.

Iolene keeps hold of Lexis hand as they navigate out of the angry crowd. Iolene tries her hardest not to break down. Lexi gives her a quick hug. Lexi felt like an older sister to Iolene and wanted to comfort her.

They walk through the streets as nothing is open. They are in the process of mourning their "Emperor." It is the same type of mourning when Lei's father died and Ning. They will remain like this until a new leader is appointed. But the uncertainty is terrifying as many dragons and people thought he will never die. Even if the aristocracy selects a new leader Empress Zhen will crush them. But who knows that wars begin again with family clans wanting the power. Lei sent a messenger Crow drag away to inform Zhen of everything.

They walk past a massive building that is a dragon temple. Located on the other side of the city. The group rest behind it.

"Welcome back." Aaron says as he stretches. His body is almost healed thanks to Iolenes powers. He has just returned himself training by running around the streets. However, the pain in his ribs still remains as he has to be careful not to bend sharp and fast.

Iolene and Lexi discuss what they saw in the early morning. Mali sits over a small pot of rice gruel. He stares at it intensely as Iolene discussed Okimis fate. Mali closes his eyes as he remembers running away from Loan with Aelius and Laelia. Grand Priestess Tulia was their last defender as they escaped. The League of Eight and Lord Nero hot on their trail as they chased through the sewage system. They escaped... He cannot imagine the battle the eight faced when they went against Tulia. But Mali could never forget that smile... Her last smile. "Go..." She muttered her last words. Mali then received a mission from Stein to save others. Other priests and allies and bring them to safety. Mali was alone when he decided to journey back to the city. But the first thing he saw when he got back was Tulias corpse... Being hung high. She was decomposing but you knew it was her because of the white and gold priest armour she wore.

Mali sheds a quiet tear and sniffles quietly. "It has been a week now... Aaron is rested up, it is time we leave here... It's only a matter of time until they discover us." Mali said with a change of tone.

Lei agreed. He hates being here... Ponderrah his dragon has been restless and acting angry by biting random things across his path. Such as shovels and barrels.

Fred and Duryss have been carrying Nekhii and Yuri. They have been bickering for the whole week. With Yuri commanding her to shut up half the time.

Beau remained quiet with Iymp for the whole week. He stares at Aaron on the odd occasion. Aaron notices and Beau faces away. Still unsure of what to do next.

They don't have much food and have been unable to get it due to everyone mourning and the riots that proceeded when the palace collapsed.

Unmei is defenceless as the guards had no idea what to do. The war is technically over so they stopped working and mourned like everyone else.

Crowdrags flying around like vultures covered the sky. Many wild, many tame... So not only are they hearing the noises from dragons and people. The screeches of those animals sounded just as loud. Lei looked up high and waited for his crowdrag. He should have reached Lan-Se by now. But Mali is right they cannot stay here...

Everyone ate and then packed the few things they have in possession. It is time to leave. Iolene gets onto Beaus' back as she looks at Aaron. Beau looks at Aaron with the same idea. Beau walks after Aaron. Catching up and nudging him on the back. Aaron looks at Beaus' eyes and sighed. Beau then lowered himself for Aaron to get on.

Mali looks on with shock. He does not know what happened between Beau and Aaron. But he has never seen Beau act like this. Beau didn't even know... As he wanted Aaron to ride him. He almost felt possessive over Aaron. He never felt such a way to Iolene.

"Aaron..." Iolene whispers.

Aaron stood still as he thought about Beau and smiled. Aaron with his left-hand strokes Beaus face and neck. Aaron climbs onto Beaus' back right behind his neck. Iolene grabs Aaron's waist as Beau stands back up. Aaron clumsily gained his balance. He has only ridden a dragon once. Aaron clenches his legs tightly on Beaus' shoulders. Beau groans in pain. He knew Aaron had strong thighs, but he is really feeling like Aaron is going to crush his shoulders.

Mali walks aside Beau. "Aaron, relax your legs." He instructed. Aaron grabs onto Beaus neck as if he is holding it for dear life. "Straighten your back and lightly grab his neck." Mali taps Aaron's foot.

Beau can feel Aaron's heartbeat rise, he is almost in a panic. Mali gently taps Beaus' leg. "Beau straighten your gait."

"Huh?" Beau moans on his tongue.

Iymp races forward with Lexi. "Walk properly... You walk lazily." Iymp laughs at Beau. "Pick your feet up and raise your head."

Beau breathes in as he picks up his feet. Iolene smiles relieved. She was afraid to tell Beau of such a thing. She fell off him once and almost fell a few times in the past. It was not a pleasant experience.

Fred and Duryss laugh behind them as Lexi cheers Aaron and Beau on. Lei and Ponderrah catch up with Iymp and Beau. Lei smiles as this small distraction is very much needed after everything has happened.

Nekhii rides with Lexi she as holds onto Lexis waist tightly. She then looks behind her as Yuri rides with Fred. An option that is best to separate them. However, Yuri has accepted his fate. This was the best option or die. He was not the kind of man to commit suicide. He wanted to see this through.

They walked through the Unmei gates one last time. It was easy to leave as many people have fled to move as south as they could. Yet many people have entered to pay their respects to the dead self-proclaimed Emperor. The northern army is making its way here. But they did not know how long it was going to take.

"See you are getting the hang of it!" Mali said happily to Aaron, then he asked the question. Why was Beau letting Aaron ride? Iolene explained when Aaron was injured, Beau chose him.

Mali stopped as he processed the information. Chosen? "Beau does that mean you have a?" Mali alluring about the bonemark. Beau nods yes. "Incredible!" Mali said breathlessly. Like that he felt earnest hope for gold dragons. Stein would be ecstatic it is like everything is coming together. Iolene the future Empress, Beau a gold starred Dragon, Stein the gold Elder Priest, Mali a Priest Master, and Aaron a gold soldier. Hope... Mali thought.

The sun began to set as the group set up camp. They are hidden in the bamboo forest; a fire is created as they began to cook dinner. There was not any food left for the dragons as they ate bamboo. Lei teaches them to remove the outer casing of the bamboo and eat what is left. It is not delicious or nutritious, but it will sustain them for a while.

The group talk around the campsite, light conversations to ease their minds. Aaron returns from his and gives Iolene a beautiful flower that looked like a feather. It was beautiful.

"Thank you, Aaron! It is so beautiful!" Iolene says with much gratitude. Giving him a light kiss on the cheek Aaron blushes.

"Mali, I have always wondered. Have you ever been in love?" Iolene asks impishly.

Mali is taken aback by the question. What a weird thing to ask him... Iolene then wondered if she did something wrong. "Did I ask something bad?" She asked innocently.

"Not in the slightest my lady. But yes, I have been in love..." The sadness in Malis eyes could not even be described. His childhood sweetheart Samira, an orphan just like him. She respected him before he became a priest. She was a tall and dark beauty with curly black hair. Mali refused to leave the orphanage without her. They entered the temple together, they trained together. But his love was never reciprocated as Samira fell in love with a man named Adras. Mali's heart broke as he watched Samira and Adras fall in love. But he still loved her... He couldn't talk about her anymore as he then says she died when Loan was taken over.

"Oh... I am so sorry Mali." Iolene says sincerely. She felt that she should not have asked. But Mali insisted that Iolene did not ask wrong. She was only curious. Mali was relieved that he could still remember Samira and he smiled.

Aaron lays next to Mali as they looked at the stars as they did when they left Dominus Sahara.

The morning arrived as Aaron woke everyone up to journey farther north. Aaron rubs his buttocks as he had no idea how much it hurt riding. Mali is proud of him. When they go back to Lan-Se he and Beau shall train together. Like how Mali and his old dragon partner Orville used to train.

As they walked further clouds began to form in the distance. Lightning can be seen as it quickly disappeared.

"Looks like a storm is coming we should find shelter," Lexi says as hairs on her neck began to rise up. Everyone Easily agreed as they can see smoke billowing in the distance. Possible shelter as they see a field of dead southern soldiers. The smell is unbearable as the bodies smell of burn and decay. Iolene grabs a cloth from her satchel and covers her mouth with it. She couldn't help but feel that she is getting used to see this and felt saddened by it...

They managed to reach a North soldier camp. But it was not what they hoped...