Chapter 12 – connections

This chapter is brought to you by, Tales in Scales: The empty throne a dinosaur fantasy adventure about a young raptor who must go on a quest to save his mother. It is only available online at Amazon or Barnes&Nobles and other retails that sell books online. Without further ado, enjoy this chapter focused on the older prince Bailinor connecting with his mother's side of the family

(Bailinor POV)

Before he goes on his journey, Prince Bailinor decides to pay a visit to his mother's side of the family. It has been a long time since he is allowed to visit his maternal uncle who owns a great farm. He used to visit there with Ignus when his mother was around. It is that farm where he learned how to ride a horse while Ignus liked to milk up the cows. He rides on his loyal horse wearing a longsleeve commoner's tunic in order to not draw attention along the peaceful open green farmlands in the middle of the night.

The farm itself is mostly traditional. The haystack brick house, a ranch filled with cows and horses. A den of pigs and chicken coop. A young girl around her late teens with bright orange hair spots Bailinor from the chicken coop while feeding the chickens. "Cousin!"

The common girl who called the prince cousin jumps through the fence and rushes towards him very happy. Bailinor makes his horse stop and hops off and embrace his commoner cousin in his arms. "It has been awhile Cousin Flora."

Flora is one of Bailinor and Ignus's first cousins. She is the eldest daughter of his uncle, his mother's younger brother. She is always the cheerful one with a big heart for animals like the ones in the farm.

"It has indeed Bailo(Bae-Low)!" Flora greets back with his nickname. Perhaps Bailo is a pet name his mother's side like to call him in dearment while they used to like to call his younger brother Iggs.

"What brings you here?" his first cousin Flora asks.

"Well, I thought I should visit some family before I go on an important journey."

"What sort of journey?" Flora asks him with curiosity.

Bailinor sighs and puts a hand on her shoulder and replies, "Something I'll explain with uncle. Is he here now?"

Flora nods and guides Bailinor into the barn house. Inside the farmhouse, a voice of a middle age man speaks, "You done feeding chickens!?"

"Ughhhh yes I did daddy!" Flora speaks back sounding nervous, hinting embarrassment. Bailinor could sense it. Perhaps, Flora has this big habbit of forgetting to do certain chores. She probably forgot to feed the chickens which is why she came from the chicken coop that late at night. "By the way, we got a visitor!"

"A visitor? At this time? Who can it be?" Food steps walk up from the stairs leading to the underground basement. From the basement, a middle-aged man with long brushed back orange hair, beard, climb up. He is wearing a shabby green robe with a pair of brown gloves and googles.

"Good evening uncle uncle Flick" Bailinor greets with a hand wave.

Flick takes off his googles to reveal green eyes like Flora. With a few blinks he smiles. "Maker bless me! Bailo, my nephew! Come have a seat."

Like many people of Soul, Flick is also a wizard who uses his magic to do farm work. Flora could do magic too but choses not too. The father and daughter guide Bailinor to a nearby dining table where they share cups of coffee.

"Tell me my boy, what brings a prince like you hear today?" Flick asks him taking a sip of his coffee.

"Well," Bailinor starts, "I am about to go on a journey to a land beyond Eurobania."

"Beyond Eurobania? There are other worlds out there?" Flick questions while Flora gets intrigued.

"Thanks to the court witch, she revealed us of such of place."

"What is this new place called?" Flora asks Bailinor.

"And why are you even going there? And how is your father?" Flick adds looking concerned.

Bailinor gets a bit uneasy. He came to have a relaxing time with farming family. Flora senses his uneasiness and places a hand on his and asks, "Is it about Iggs? Is he still being a meanie?"

"Well…lets just say this journey do have something to with Ignus." Bailinor answers. At the same time hesitant to tell them that his father turned him into a dragon in order to experience how it feels to be shunned just how he shunned people out of nowhere. He remembers trying to reason with Ignus, demanding why he is so angry. Yet Ignus would just push him off along with his father and locks himself in his quarters.

"But right now, my father is well, he is getting the expedition ready" he adds.

"So, this trip is to try to understand that poor lad? I remember my father would take me on hikes to new places in order to understand each other." Flick proudly guesses.

"Kind a like that," Bailinor shrugs. In full truth, he hopes to catch Ignus, try to get him to see reason, and maybe get some answers on why he turned into a jerk in the first place. Maker why does he have to remember how Ignus caused a lot of trouble at this farm before his dragon transformantion.

During such a time, Bailinor remembers that Ignus would use his magic to harass farmers. like blowing up some mugs of water at a group of farmer's faces for simply saying a joke. Zapped some chickens with his lightning bolts to infuriate Flora for simply talking to him. He even blew up a major barn with a fireball spell out of anger. What Ignus did to the farm that day, pretty much was one of the final straws that made his father want to teach him a lesson.

"Whatever his issue is, Maker i hope that red dragon did not eat him somehow!" Flick states with worry.

"Don't worry about that uncle, he definitely did not get eaten by the red dragon," Bailinor nervously replies scratching the back of his head. Turns out they do not know that Ignus turned into a dragon. Flora seems to pick up on his awkward behavior by the way she gives him a raised brow.

Flora shakes it off for now and states with a sigh, "I wish Ignus could be nice again."

"Me too my sweet, He used to be such a nice boy. Sometimes i wonder if it has to do with that magic experiment accident that killed poor Isabella my dear big sister." Flick wonders looking at a painted picture of himself when he was younger with the mentioned sister posing like a hero.

"Maybe," Bailinor adds, "I think it has something do with during his time at the Wizard's academy."

"What do you mean?" Flick questions along with a curious look from Flora.

Bailinor explains that during Ignus's final year at the academy, he went bitter at some point and refused to speak with him, his father, and others who cared for him. Ignus preferred to isolate himself thinking it better that way. For the months that followed, both students and teachers complained about his sour attitude like using his magic to harass students for simply making jokes or foul talking certain teachers. It just not normal for Ignus to act as such. When Bailinor himself tries to reason with Ignus, he just pushes him off, saying that he is just like the rest of them. Makes Bailinor's heart ache with tear by thinking of such.

Flora puts a comforting hand on his shoulder and says, "Whatever happen to poor Iggs, I truly hope he gets better."

"I hope so too," Bailinor states with a face of conflict. For the rest of the night, he socializes with his uncle and cousin until it is bedtime. Sadly his other cousins and aunt are in bed.

()

While the moon is still shines, Bailinor decides to have a small walk up the hill. He sits on the hill and stares at the night sky. There are a lot in his mind. He wonders if his mother is up there with the maker watching what is going on. The best he could do is pray for things to get better. He is going on a big adventure to save his brother from not only what those snake furry creatures are, but from himself as well. Maker he will find out why Ignus is so angry.

"The Red Dragon is Iggs isn't he?" a voice calls out. Bailinor perks up and looks behind him to see Flora has followed him.

"You know?!" Bailinor questions giving a raised eyebrow.

"The fact the dragon appears out of nowhere after Iggs disappeared. When the dragon came by his mane looks exactly like like him!" Flora walks up beside Bailinor and sits next to him "Uncle Merlon turnned him into a dragon did he?"

"Yeah he did" Bailinor answers sounding dissapointed "At some point father could not stand Ignus's behavior anymore. Refusing to talk to us, causing more trouble. The day it happened I was in my quarters reading an adventure book until i heard footsteps passing my quarters. Curious I saw father very upset, heading to the throne room. Wanting to know what is going on i followed him. At the throne room i watched, hiding behind the door to see what looks like a trial of sorts. Then i hear father scolding little brother's behavior, demanding for him to open up. In response, Ignus said, 'Make me' in which stroke a nerve. From there, father performed an ancient spell, turning Ignus into the dragon you saw now.

"I understand that little brother needed to be punished but..."

"It went too far?" Flora finishes for Bailinor.

The latter gets into a trance. a memory echos in his head. starting with his own voice

FATHER WHAT THE HELL!?

It had to be done.

Done? DONE!? You realize that he is going to go on a rampage and cause more trouble!

The voices stop. Bailinor reaches his hand into his cloak and takes out a scroll.

"What is that?" Flora asks.

"When head to the world to save my brother...I am going to reverse the spell before things get worse."

Poor Bailinor, he really hopes he could help his brother. Also be sure to visit my youtube channel, BlueDragonStudios to read some audio of my book ;)