Chapter 4

The Blue Temple

After Ky and I stuttered for awhile, we resumed conversation as usual. "Let's stop at the Blue temple before we go to see Arishka." Moku started.

"Not looking forward to seeing your darling wife?" I teased.

"We need to stay en route." Ky stated. I felt my heart fall, as I was looking forward to seeing the Blue Temple.

"It's right on the way." A bubble of hope rose in my stomach.

"We can't stop." The bubble popped.

"Yes, we can. And we will." The boys really need to stop playing with my emotions.

"Okay, stop arguing, boys! We're going to the Blue temple whether you like it or not." I almost shouted at them, but contained myself at the last second.

They both looked at me, surprised. "Whatever the lady wants." Moku chuckled.

"Fine, but we can't stay long. We have to get to Arishka and Menoly before the Zarbor pick up our track."

"You're a wet blanket, you know that?"

Moku laughed. And yet you still love him. There was an unfamiliar voice at the back of my head. Ultimatra?

We can speak like this. None of the boys or their dragons can hear us, unless you want them to.

Why didn't we speak like this before?

I had nothing to say. I laughed at her tone of voice and the boys stared.

"Why are you laughing?"

"No reason. Forget about it."

We touched down at the front of a clearly abandoned temple. There were wilted and dried flowers lining the walls of the dojo. Inside the cave, there were cobwebs lining the walls, and the gems were encrusted in dust. The hole in the back of the cave was clean, a fresh sight in the sea of dirt. I sat in the hole, and waited for the boys to catch up with me, as I had left them in the temple examining the flowers.

"Well, you can tell that noone's been in here for a while." Moku said when he finally sat beside me in the giant hole. I shrugged and twisted my legs. Ky stood in his usual calm exterior.

"Hey, you kids! You're trespassing! Noone but the Blue Dragon and their Sworn Handmaiden may enter the Sacred Resting Place!" A young woman rounded the corner wearing a beautiful blue kimono with silver trimming.

"How about the Blue Dragon and her two friends, the Gold and Green Dragons?" I looked at her curiously.

"That would be befitting, but there-'' She stopped when she saw the color of our eyes and the curves of our teeth. She dropped onto her knees and bowed. "I'm sorry, Your Graciousness. Thank you for not killing me on sight."

"Why would I do that? And why is everyone asking me to kill them?"

"Because I disrespected you and two other Dragons. I am so sorry. Please spare my life."

I dismissed the idea with a careful wave of my hand and asked her to stand. Her still being on her knees was making me uncomfortable. As she stood, I admired her kimono again. I have to find out where she got it.

"Please leave-'' Ky started, but stopped.

"Kikoni."

"Thank you, Kikoni. You may leave." I said gently, not wanting to disrespect her or his likely powerful family.

"As you wish, mistress." She bowed and left the room, leaving only me and the two guys.

"Well," I shoved Moku out of my little "bed" and laid down, my hand resting on my stomach. "What do we do now?"

"We rest. We can only fly once an hour if we touch down. Our wings need to rest." Moku shrugged and Ky scoffed.

"What's your problem?" I asked gently, not wanting to make him angry.

"My problem is that we were only supposed to fly over it, not stop and meet your handmaiden! I don't even have a handmaiden!"

"Somebody's jealous!" Moku teased.

Alya, Ky's right. I'm sensing a disturbance coming from Arishka and Moonily. Would you like me to ask what's wrong with them?

Go ahead. We need to get to them as soon as possible. If Arishka's in trouble, it's all my fault. But with my ankle-

I'll take care of that. Just tell the boys that you'll need to run to reach her in time. There may be another Dragon War brewing.

"Okay, boys. Your Dragon's must be sleeping, because Ultimatra just informed me that there is a disturbance with Arishka. I'm hoping she's just having the egg, but you never know. Ultimatra thinks another Dragon War may be beginning."

I jumped out of my hole, and was surprised to find that there was no

pain coming from my ankle. The boys looked at each other, than at me. "We'll have to run. Can you handle it?"

"What do you think?" I said as I jumped back into the hole.

"She's fine. Alya, if you need any help at all, just let me know. I'll carry you on my back if I have to." Ky looked at Moku murderously, only to get a shrug.

"Thanks," I kissed him on the cheek, and watched Ky's face contort in fury, "but I won't need it. I'm Arelyshia High's Racing Queen. Keep up if you can!" I took off, bumping Ky's arm on purpose as I jolted out of the cave. I got a slight head start in the time that it took to boys to figure out what had just happened. I could hear Ultimatra whooping in the back of my mind, but I pushed it to the side as I ran. With me, running isn't just running. It's the combination of mind and body flowing together and joining as one. I lost all thought, and just concentrated on the trail beneath me. I had already reached and was sitting under a tree, with the Red Dragon temple in sight to the south, when the boys caught up to me. Moku was panting and sweating, so I handed him my water bottle. Ky hadn't even cracked a sweat, and was breathing normally. The guy had probably jogged beside Moku to make him feel better that he was out of shape. Poor Moku.

"You are––really––fast." Moku panted at me.

"Thanks. You're sweet." I looked at Ky, who just stared back at me. I held my stare until he looked away, then transferred my gaze to Moku.

"How you feeling?" I asked a still panting Moku.

"Like crap."

"That's normal. You need to get out more."

"Yeah."

We stopped for the night, as it was beginning to get dark. We found a large cave close to the trail, and set up camp. Since the Zarbor didn't dare to came near Arishka's territory, we didn't need to set up a constant guard.

After Moku was soundly snoring, I curled up in a ball and sat in the back of the cave. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't hot either. Since Ky was out getting firewood, there was noone to talk to, and I got bored quickly.

Ultimatra?

Yes?

What's going to happen to us?

That is all up to you, dear one. I can't tell what lies ahead, only that it won't involve too much pain.

Thanks. Now I know that my future holds a good deal of pain.

I never said that, but you are right. Our future will be a hard one, and we will have to deal with that. If you weren't able to handle it, however, do you honestly think I would have chosen you to be the next Blue Dragon?

No.

Good. Now, I will go to sleep. We may have a rough day ahead of us. Don't do anything you may regret.

With Ky?

You know what I mean.

I won't piss him off. I promise.

Thank you.

Good night.

Good night, dear one.

After I could hear Ultimatra cooing softly, I turned my attention back to the mouth of the cave, where Ky had appeared. He was laden with thin sticks and small branches. I helped him to where I had been sitting without stepping on his brother. He piled them together, and sat down beside me. After situating himself, he shot a carefully aimed jet of orange fire toward the small stack of timber. I fetched a large bowl-shaped stone full of water out of a small puddle close to the cave and positioned it next to the feeding pile. I sat down beside Ky and just looked at the fire. After about ten minutes, Ky spoke.

"Are you in love with him?" Ky asked quietly.

"Who?"

"Moku. Who else?"

I looked at the snoring man. "No."

He sighed in what sounded like relief.

"Why?"

"Just wanted to know."

I looked away from him, and stared at the fire. I leaned against the stony wall and closed my eyes. Ky must have thought I went to sleep, as he carried me over to where I had made a bedroll out of a blanket from my pack. He laid me onto it and went back to the wall, where he had laid his own bed. His was made of my cloak, and a green saddle blanket. Moku was laying on his yellow saddle blanket with golden embroidery. It's a good thing there were no Zarbor around, or we would have been ideal targets as Dragons.

I was a little disappointed that Ky hadn't asked what he wanted to, and I was mad at myself for not telling him. I wanted to, I really did. It was just that I wanted to make sure that I did before I let him know. I mean, what if I wasn't? What if he didn't feel the same way? I would look like a total idiot. I fell asleep pondering how and if I was going to tell him, not to mention arguing the pro's and con's if I were to tell him. If only...