Here comes the next Chapter, which is also the end of the 'Past' arc!
Turning point ahead :D I wonder what is it~
Drew and the rest finally appeared! Woohoo~
Here are the replies to your reviews/comments XD Thanks for much for supporting!
Hornet394: *applauds* you, sir, are like a reader of the mind. True that – even the greatest warrior will fall one day, huh? Guess it's inevitable. Well…the Flying Lizards are a crafty bunch – since Rei was born in Ziroga, they still see her under their rules as long as it ensures their livelihood and hold over the dominion, I guess (: Regarding the whip – good thinking! But you will see how in this chapter ^^ Thanks for the review! I really love reading what you think about my story too XD
Well now, with no further ado, let the story begin.
Maybe it was the confidence that he was a WereLord, or perhaps it was because his mind was preoccupied with the state Rei was in, he didn't quite anticipate the repercussions of his actions earlier on. Even so, he had to do it, to save that girl whom he has promised to protect.
Rei was still lying amongst the heap of hay, her breathing weakening with each passing seconds. Evaxus could only watch on helplessly as he remained chained on the elevated platform.
The DracoGuards assisting in the prosecution has removed Evaxus' top wear, revealing his bare back to the instrument of pain. The bandages that covered his tattoo on his upper arm were untouched.
The first whip from the executioner came down.
It was a fiery lash – the metal spikes digging into his skin and lacerating his flesh, while the pieces of glass dislodged from the whip and embedded themselves into his back. It was as if a serpent made of fire was spitting venom at him as it slithered across his bare skin. His eyes opened wide with shock as his pupils constricted, sweats dripping down from his forehead to his chin. Evaxus gritted his teeth to prevent vocalization, and all came out was an anguished grunt.
Ireok smirked at the agonized boy as he stood haughtily at the platform, next to the DracoGuard who continued to beat the youth.
Blood splattered everywhere with each hitting whip, and flowed down into a great puddle with each drag. Pieces of glass can be seen amongst the bloody floor. The crimson liquid flowed through the cracks and crevices on the wooden podium and dripped steadily onto the muddy earth underneath. It was not a pretty sight.
As each blow flayed onto his back, more blood sprayed into the air and filled the area with iron tang. Sweating and bleeding profusely, Evaxus knew that with a weapon made of any metal other than silver, he would not suffer lethality – yet, the pain inflicted was very real. His healing prowess of a Were-Dragon would close the mortal wounds in no time, but with continuous gashes and abrasions at the same area, he couldn't quite repair his injuries. Small lesions might have already been mended by now, but underneath the masses of gore and blood neither DracoGuard nor DracoLord suspected anything.
When the beatings was over, all that's left of Evaxus' back was a twisted and mangled heap of raw flesh with pieces of glittering glass. Throughout the ordeal, Evaxus didn't even cry or voice out in pain – merely grunting and flinching here and there. Ireok was unpleased about it – shouldn't an execution be full of cries of begging, when people plead for mercy? – But he knew that if he continued, he would overdo it and things might get ugly if this boy died right here and now.
"Halt." He commanded, eyeing the boy with his beady green eyes. The DracoGuard stopped on cue, and took a step back, dragging the bloody whip along. It left a trail of redness in its leave. Ireok then leaned down face to face with Evaxus.
"Now that you know the consequences of your actions…" He snarled into the fatigued boy's face. Evaxus couldn't even turn his head up to look at him, merely glaring at the Volan from his angle. Ireok stood up, over Evaxus, and announced loudly. "You will know that the laws of Ziroga will be followed. If not, we won't be so merciful towards you the next time." He waved at another DracoGuard.
"Untie him, and throw him down." He snorted before turning to face the crowd. "And this is all for the trial tonight. Please go back and get a good rest. And, anyone seen remaining here and attempt to help this pair of criminals will be trialed as accomplice, as well." Ireok grinned as he licked his teeth with pointed tongue. The villagers murmured in panic as groups after groups dissipated back to their houses. Some were slightly reluctant, throwing Evaxus and Rei looks of sympathy – but under the pressure of the DracoGuards waving their battleaxes around, they staggered away eventually.
As the crowd left, it began to rain – a drizzle at first, then a heavy downpour. Cursing, Ireok brisk-walked back to the warmth of his quarters with a number of DracoGuards trailing behind. Two DracoGuards hurled the unmoving Evaxus onto the wet mud before hurrying back as well. The village square was cleared so suddenly and only the injured duo was left.
The rain drenched his entire body and his blood was washed away into the mud, staining the light-brown earth a darker shade. Wiping away the water on his face, he struggled up, trying to disregard the pain shooting at him from his back. He knew it was a gruesome sight, but it will heal eventually – yet, for the girl in front of him, he was hesitant.
Dragging his tired body across the rain, he reached the cart where Rei lay.
"Rei…? Rei! Answer me, please! Wake up!" He put his arms on her shoulders and shook her. There was no response. His breathing and actions became frantic, very much the opposite when he was on the execution podium. He put his hand on her face – it was cold. His heart beat faster and faster, pumping blood through his body and through his wounds. The fact that he was quite literally caked in blood – his blood – did not bother him as much as the current state of his sister.
"Damn it!" He placed two fingers on her neck, searching for a pulse at the jugular vein – but he could feel nothing. His breathing became heavier.
No, Evaxus – maybe she has just fainted and her pulse is weak. That's why you can't get any response from her, nor feels any pulse. He carried her in his arms and trotted towards the direction of the town entrance. I will bring her back to our house. Please…..hang it there, Rei.
Evaxus ran along the muddy path towards the forest in the distance. He hugged her close to his body, hoping that his body heat will warm her up. But still, the girl in her arms felt as cold as the rainwater pouring from the heavens.
The pain from his back has lessened – his tissues have probably begun to rebuild themselves – even though the bleeding continued. The road was dark, and the horrible downpour made seeing the environment even harder. But with his iridescent blue eyes, he could see well in the swallowing darkness, as good as when there is daylight.
Finally! He reached the doorstep and barged into the house. Without hesitating, he moved Rei into the granary and gently placed her on a piece of deer hide in the middle of the floor. He went back to the main room and closed the front door before grabbing a few dry cloths and wiped the rain from Rei's drenched body. If only I have control over Fire, like Father! Then I could warm her up in no time. Che…! Biting his lips, he tried to rub some body heat into the limbs of his sister, but they were icy cold. He lifted her up and checked her back, and cringed almost immediately at the sight – the burn wounds were horrific, with black burnt skin and flesh curling up due to dehydration. In between the black marks were bright red tissues that oozed out bloody water. Tenderly he placed some towels on her back before easing her down to the lying position.
My priority is to get her conscious, first, before administering other treatments. He placed his hand on her forehead, her neck, and her chest – but perhaps it was his own hands that were cold, the body didn't feel warm. Rather, it was a cold as a corpse.
Evaxus retracted his hands in a jerk. Don't…don't tell me… He swallowed some saliva down his dry throat, as he reached a finger underneath Rei's nostrils. The result made him reeled back and collapsed onto the wooden floor – Nooooooooooo!
She wasn't breathing.
"Evaxus you idiot! You should have checked her breathing before doing anything else!" He screamed in anguish, tears welling up. No no no no no no no no-
"REIIIIIIIII!" Evaxus howled, as he frantically shook the girl's body. "Please, please! Wake up – this is not funny, alright? Brother gave up! Don't play already, alright? Don't die on me!" There must be something I can do! What am I to call myself a big brother, a DragonLord, if I can't even protect a single person?
He slammed onto the ground with his fists. His whole body was shaking. Some liquid dripped onto the dry ground.
She is gone.
It's too late – I can't help her.
She has died so tragically, and I couldn't even do a thing even though I was there.
Damn it….
…..
Or…can I?
He closed his eyes tightly as memories whirred in his mind. With his mind's eyes, he viewed all the lectures and teachings his parents and teachers have given him. He scanned through the many books and scrolls on Lyssia history, geography, politics, WereLords….and themselves, the DragonLords.
…That's it!
This is my only chance. I will do it.
Rei looked as if she was sleeping, with her eyes and mouth shut, and her skin so pale and porcelain-like. It was as if all the ordeals were just a dream, a nightmare – and she would wake up any time soon and yawned, asking Evaxus questions like "What'd you catch for tonight?" or "What have you done to the door/wall/roof/fence?" or trivial, nonsensical statements like "You know, I dreamt that I could fly!"
"….Silly girl." He knelt down next to her, and reached a hand out to caress her head, swiping the fringe off her face. The preparation is complete. Evaxus silently looked at his handiwork – using charcoal, he has drawn an intricate circular pattern with Dragon language on the floor of the granary. Rei was placed right in the middle where the lines and writings met and entwined. Her clothes were removed except for some pieces covering the important regions, and her body was cleaned of mud and blood. On the surface of her face, chest and arms there were similar elaborate patterns drawn using the same charcoal.
Next to her was the young Were-Dragon. He wore nothing except for a pair of shorts that hung loosely on his waist with a piece of leather string. His face, bare chest and arms were strewn with runic motifs as well, albeit drawn with his own blood. The wounds on his back have already closed up, and in his hands he held a sharp dagger that he usually uses for hunting.
He was nervous, and he tried to calm himself by taking in deep breaths. His throat was dry, and the knuckles of the hand that gripped the dagger were white.
He has recalled this ritual from what he has heard from his mother, an experienced magic-user. The original ritual of "Shin-Kai", life-giving, was a rite with many controversies. Typically a DragonLord may only mate with another DragonLord – one of the many reasons would be the contrasting lifespan of a Were-Dragon and another WereLord or non-WereLord. A DragonLord only has one mate throughout his lifetime, for he is committed and loyal to his other half. But with the shorter lifespan of a non-Dragon or a human, the Were-Dragon would surely live his remaining life alone, after his beloved has passed away. Given the attachment he has with his mate, there were many cases of depression and even suicides concerning this matter.
Then one day came a DragonLord who was the clan's mage who has fallen in love with a human – a romance that was destined to be short-lived. But with desperation and his ingenuity, he has come up with a special ritual that allowed a DragonLord to share blood with a non-Dragon. In short, using blood as a vector, the DragonLord will pass half of his remaining lifespan to the non-Dragon, giving both of them enough time to spend together.
Noting that Shin-Kai only worked on a living person, another adroit and ambitious mage many years later has decided to experiment it on a dead person – bestowing 'life-giving' another twisted meaning. After many modifications and failures, he has succeeded in bringing a dead body back to life – but only for those that has been dead for less than 2 hours. He has created a new set of ritual that was successful, but this was not all without sacrifices – in doing so, he has lost many years he could have lived, with an additional horrific cost. After the ritual, he could not walk again – the price of "Shin-Kai Kruk" would not only be the user's life force, but something part of the user as well. There have been instances for several Shin-Kai Kruk practitioners who have lost their sense of sight and hearing. Nobody knew for certain who would be taken from them.
And that was what Evaxus has planned to do right now.
He took a deep breath, rerunning the procedures of this risky ritual in his mind several times. "Mother, please watch over us." He muttered. Then, he raised the dagger and ran the blade along the length of his left arm. It has to be a deep cut to prevent immediate closer of the wound. He endured the pain as blood oozed out, and hovered his arm over Rei's body. The blood dripped down from the boy's arm onto the bloodless body and he began chanting in the Terak tongue. The droning continued for a long time and the air seemed to be filled with a suffocating force – the element of darkness that no Dragons have ever truly harnessed.
The energy seemed to pulsate with the chanting as they gathered slowly atop Rei. For a few moments, the time seemed to have stopped – and suddenly, the darkness dissipated. The blood that has been dripped onto her body followed the lines drawn with the charcoal and flowed smoothly across the skin surface. Evaxus finished his mantra and took a deep breath as he opened his eyes. His face was pale with beads of sweat formed across his forehead. In the dim room, the blood seemed to radiate a haunting pink. Abruptly, the flow disappeared as the blood and markings sank into Rei's body.
"Rei? Rei!" Did it work…?
As if answering his question, her eyelids flickered and she slowly opened her eyes. Evaxus was bursting with glee.
"Where….where am I?" She spoke softly. She rubbed her eyes as she leaned her upper body forward; her visions seemed to be blurry.
She's alive! I did it! Overcame with joy, Evaxus swooped forward and hugged Rei tightly, feeling warmth coming through. Yes – there is blood flowing through her veins. She is back!
"Rei! I'm so glad you're back!" He cried, and hastily covered her bare skin with a cloak. "How are you feeling?" Will she lose her memory? Or…worse?
"Evaxus? What're you doing here?" Rei looked around. "Why are we here? I remember us at the town centre…" Her eyes widened in shock and she jolted up. "Evaxus, the DracoGuards got me! It was burning, pain….hot…" She was quivering as she stuttered.
"It's okay, everything's alright now." Evaxus embraced her again, assuring her. "That's in the past – no one will hurt you again, alright? I'm sorry I couldn't make it then – but I have promised you I will protect you. I swear...I will never break any of my promises again."
Rei paused and nodded slowly. She gingerly touched her back, and found no wounds or scars. "Yes…it is just a nightmare."
Evaxus nodded. "It's late now – you must be tired. I'll carry you upstairs, alright? Have some water, and catch some sleep." He stroked her hair and wrapped the cloak securely around her. He carried her upstairs and tucked her in bed, and watched her as she fell asleep. There was a small hint of doubt in his face when the moonlight streamed through.
There seemed to be no ill effects the Shin-Kai Kruk had on Rei. He thought. She came back to life successfully – a typical DragonLord has an average lifespan of 200 winters. Taking away my current age, she would have received 92 years to live. Subtracting the price of death - dividing by two….Rei would live to the maximum age of 46. He sighed.
"That's better than nothing." He whispered. His thoughts then turned from Rei to himself. I wonder what the price I have paid was.
He walked to the window and looked out – his visions were fine, so were his sense of hearing. He could move around normally, hence his skeletal movements were alright. Evaxus touched his hair and face – he didn't went bald or become disfigured, did he?
He let out a breath of relief. Perhaps I didn't exert any painful price to pay, after all…?
There was a stinging sensation coming from where he has bled himself during the ritual. He looked down, and found the deeply-cut wounds still raw to the touch – he had a high pain threshold ever since young and he was merely puzzled as to why the wounds were not closing up. By now the cut should be no more than an incision…
"!"
Evaxus seemed to have realized something – he then pulled out the dagger from his belt and scratched the back of his left palm with the tip. It was a thin line that has made a small slit in the skin that should repair as he watched. But it didn't.
Evaxus could only smile bitterly as the truth sank in. So this is it, huh.
He has lost his rapid healing abilities as a Were-Dragon.
And that was 3 years ago.
Now, Evaxus was 19 years old, and Rei was 18 years old.
It was fortunate that the Volans never disturb them again, probably because no passer-bys dropped by their little cottage again after that incident and their tax collection has returned to normal. In a way, they were being left alone and forgotten again. Their only visitor would by Spyron, who came over occasionally to have a cup of drink and chatted with Rei about the occurrence in Ziroga. Of course, these were all done behind the DracoLords' back. Rei was much healthier, and seemed only able to recall bits and pieces of that night. But other than that, she was back to herself, and life was normal.
One sunny morning Evaxus was practicing swordsmanship using a wooden stick laden with rocks, and Rei down the river preparing baits, when a band of travelers walked past the house. Evaxus observed them from beside the cottage where he was practicing – it was a party of six, with a brown-haired youth leading the front. The rest of the travelers were two fine-looking ladies, a boy clad in black, a muscular man with beard, and a lean-built man who strutted behind them. One glance from Evaxus and he knew that these were no simple travelers – their aura gave off a sense of authority and dignity.
The group stopped in front of the house, and Evaxus stopped his sword work as well. The brown-haired boy shouted to him.
"Excuse me! Sorry for intruding, but may we know if we are on the right path to Ziroga?"
These people don't look like scholars, but they don't seem like evil people.
Evaxus stepped down from the slope and reached the level where the boy was standing, and nodded in greetings.
"Worry not, you're on the right track – there is only one path from here, just follow the road and you'll reach Ziroga by noon." The young DragonLord pointed into the distance to his right.
Evaxus noticed the man with the sharp features staring at his hair. One of the ladies stepped on the man's foot and scolded him in hushed whispers, "It's rude to stare!" The man shrugged and grinned, saying nothing.
"In that case, we'd best hurry on. Thank you for your time." The boy thanked him and walked on. The band followed behind him. As they moved on, Evaxus could still hear their discussions, now less discreet.
"Vega! Why did you look at that boy with that grudging expression?" Gretchen scowled at the Were-Shark.
"Don't you find him a bit…weird? And weird is just an understatement." Count Vega replied while stroking his chin.
"He's helpful to us." Whitley chimed in. "Or perhaps you're just jealous because he's quite a handsome lad?" She laughed. Duke Bergan laughed along with her.
Evaxus smirked in amusement and shook his head to himself as he went back to where he left in his practice, decided to stop eavesdropping.
Hector merely quickened his footsteps, saying nothing. But in his mind, there were voices hissing at him.
Oh, look at you, my dear brother. Just how long did you take to reach here, huh? A sarcastic voice spoke to him, and continued chattering. The young BoarLord kept quiet, ignoring what Vincent threw at him.
"Drew, you know what we're going to do, right?" Duke Bergan tapped on the brown-haired boy's shoulders, and spoke in a fatherly tone. The boy nodded.
"We have only one objective – to seek out this DragonLord that the scroll spoke of, and hopefully he'll join our side." The descendent of the Wolf said. "Let's just hope that we aren't too late."
The sun beamed above the wary and tired party as they moved on.
To end this war.
If what the scroll mentioned is true, perhaps the appearance of the legendary WereLord will help us end the battle against Lucas. And then, I don't need to be King anymore.
They have reached Ziroga just after noon, and the town was bustling with activities. There were carts and stalls selling fruits and other foodstuffs, but most of the merchandises were tomes and scrolls of all sorts. Truly Ziroga was a hotspot for scholars, a destination for knowledge-seekers, and a paradise for magisters. Even Hector, who has been eerily silent throughout the journey, became excited at the scene and trotted around with a gleam in his eyes.
"We should find a place to stay first, before exploring this place and hunt for information." Duke Bergan decided. The group was tired after days of travelling, and no one objected to it.
There were a number of lodges catered to visiting scholars, and they've decided to check into the local inn after consideration about the money. For one, they have no idea how long they would be staying here – and for another, a tavern is the best place to dig up information. All of them have agreed on Vega to be in charge of this task.
"With your fishy affiliations to bars and slippery tongue, you can sweet-talk anyone into giving you information." Gretchen explained, and Vega has no say in this. They rested a while in their rooms – the males in one, and the ladies next door – before heading downstairs to the tavern for a hearty mid-day meal. The warm mushroom and cured meat broth with roasted slabs of steak filled their growling stomachs. They split their works.
Count Vega would mix around with the locals in the tavern, chatting up to them, exchanging gossips, in order to get information about the local WereLords and DragonLords. Whitley would accompany him – not only to keep a watchful eye over the people as they come and go, but also over the Were-Shark himself.
Duke Bergan and Hector would visit the locals at the markets and the stalls, inquiring about ancient scrolls and records speaking of the supposedly-extinct WereLords. The inquisitive soul would of course take this chance to source for new volumes to add to his collection of knowledge, too.
As for Lady Gretchen and Drew, they would stroll through Ziroga to familiarize themselves with the topography, and also chat up with some DracoGuards relating to issues about the Dragon War, in which the DragonLords were defeated right here in Ziroga.
"We'll meet back here when the sun sets." Duke Bergan declared.
If they weren't here in person, they wouldn't know that this town existed. The responsibility of sucking out information from the semi-drunk DracoGuards fell onto Gretchen, as she used her cunning skills to get all the secrets from him.
"Seems like Ziroga used to be a famous town." Gretchen explained to Drew. "People would come from all over the Seven Realms to this place to learn. But after the Dragon War, the town fell into ruins and many places have to be rebuilt. Locals moved out, fewer travelers came by, and people forgot about this place. Ziroga experienced halted growth and it was a dark time. They said, three years ago this was a dead town where villagers lived like beggars. But now, the DracoLords have revamped this entire place and refurbished the town – more and more people came by, and soon they hope for Ziroga to become the famous town it used to be."
Drew nodded in acknowledgement, and looked around the town centre. Brightly-coloured houses surround a water fountain carved in the shape of a flying lizard. Some of the houses were half-painted, revealing gray cement underneath. Crowds of villagers and travelers interlaced each other, bartering and talking and walking. It would be a beautiful and cheerful town – if the faint scent of bloodshed could be erased from this place.
While Gretchen was talking to some DracoGuards, Drew was exchanging conversations with a lonely old man who sat by himself in the shades of one corner of the bustling square. If he's a local, given his age he would know of the War that has happened here half a century ago. Elders like him carry wisdom with age.
From what he knew from the old man, whatever Gretchen has acquired from the DracoGuard was correct – to a certain extent.
"Greetings, good sir."
"And good day to you too, young man. If you're one of those con-men trying to squeeze money out of innocent civilians, you're found the wrong person, kid." The old man replied gruffly as he took a gulp of a bottle of whisky.
"You're mistaken, sir. I came for your wisdom." Drew said humbly, having this feeling that this old man will give him information unlike those glorified recounts the other villagers have given him. The old man snorted at him.
"That sounded familiar…" He mumbled to himself before talking to Drew in a normal tone. "This old man's got no wisdom, but if there's a soul who can make a conversation with me without eyeing my coins…sit down with me and have a chat, shall we?" Drew nodded and sat down on the ground with him without hesitation. He then realized that where the eyes of the old man should be were empty sockets.
"…" The old man sipped his liquor. "So what is it that you want to know? You don't sound like any of the locals. You must have looked for me after talking to those young people outside-" He tilted his chin towards the crowds. "-because you want the truth, isn't it?"
"Thank you for hearing me out," Drew said. "Can you please tell me what you know of the DragonLords?" Immediately, the old man laughed.
"Ahahahaha! And I thought you would be different!" Spyron snickered. "This is like a déjà vu of three years ago. Alright, boy – I'll tell you what I know, but only once, so listen carefully. It is understandable for travelers like you to ask about the Dragons nowadays – the Volans won't do nuthin'. But me…me especially, they've already taken my sight from me, the next good handiworks might be my life."
Drew was a patient listener as the old man told him about the DragonLords – their histories, their victories, their fall. He told the young man about his roles as a librarian, how he lost his eyes – as a punishment for "talking to outsiders" and for "knowing too much about the Dragon language" – and the dark past of Ziroga. The Volans might seem like heroes and benefactor of the new-Ziroga, but there were lots of dirty works behind the scenes.
The young Were-Wolf thanked the old man wholeheartedly, but knew that these were not enough. "Old man – I have one last question. Can you please tell me…the whereabouts of the last Dragon?"
This time, the old man's face froze. He maintained silence, and took a sip from his whisky bottle. He chuckled coldly. "I see – so that's why you asked me about so many things. If you're with the Volans or the Cats – you can take my life if you want. I'm not going to tell you anything about him. Now, please go." He waved his walking stick towards the crowd, and turned his head away from Drew.
Drew wanted to explain, that he was here because he seek the help from the Dragon, that he was fighting the Cats as well. But the sullen look in the old man's face told him that the conversation has ended. He stood up, and said to the old man "Thank you sir" before walking out of the shades.
And so he met up with the Were-Fox at the water fountain. Gretchen was admiring the details in the white marble, but Drew could only look on, disgusted, at where the torture platform used to be.
The sun sank into the horizons like a dying phoenix, leaving trails of crimson behind the sky that was its canvas. The town was well-lit with torches, and the group found themselves sitting down in one corner of the tavern. Count Vega seemed genuinely tired after a day of talking, while Hector could only be seen if you push aside all the scrolls and books he has bought. All of them were eager to share their stories, with enthusiasm scattered across their faces.
"Well then, I shall begin." Duke Bergan cleared his throat and spoke in a hushed voice, but loud enough for the six of them to hear. "Ziroga was the natal territory of the DragonLords, who took up the roles as Keepers of Lyssia. They observed wars, read the stars…but they stayed out of conflicts. Their importance was on recording the histories and happenings in the Seven Realms while keeping an unbiased stand, so that those in the future generations can know the truths."
"Gone from these lands half a century ago, the last DragonLord perished along with Ziroga. The Volan Family, the DracoLords, rose from their positions and took over as the ruler of this town. According to the stall-holders, it was because of the Volans that Ziroga managed to rise above itself, and became what we see today." Hector finished their investigations for the day, and he turned his head back to his mountain of books. Drew could only smile at his good friend.
Count Vega waved at Whitley, signaling her to report their works of the day. Rather unlike him, he slouched on the wooden chair while gulping down ales to soothe his burning throat.
"Well then – Vega and I have been talking to the people around the various pubs. Turns out that most of the DracoGuards that we have seen are veterans of the Dragon War, some from the CatLords' army and some from the town itself. Many have turned to the DracoLords as their mercenary skills were not useful in a time of peace." Whitley continued. "There also have been rumours about the remnant of the DragonLords – that a survivor would appear and bring calamities to the town. Quite unlike the information we've got. There were nothing much we have found out – most of them were town gossips which are not relevant to our mission." Whitley looked over to Vega, who sighed while downing his fourth pint. He seemed to be depressed that his sweet-talk could only gather so much.
The gang then turned to Gretchen and Drew. Gretchen looked towards Drew, but Drew just nodded for her to speak first. Gretchen then retold the story she has heard from the DracoGuards in the market square, that the Volans were saviors of the town, and how they had lifted Ziroga back to its feet. When she has finished, it was Drew's turn.
"Listen, guys…what I have gathered were quite different recounts on the same story." Drew closed his eyes, thinking about the blind old man and his tales of Ziroga's dark past – and his perpetual fear and hatred when he spoke of the DracoGuards and the Cats. Once he has finished, he looked back to the faces of his allies.
"Look – I think we should believe what the old man has said. If what he said is true, we must not let any winds of our search for the last DragonLord to reach the Volans' ears. I'm not sure if they are searching for him as well – but I'm certain that treating him to a banquet would be the last thing on their list." Drew whispered hastily, and paused when a group of chattering DracoGuards walked past him.
"Nevertheless, we need to find this Dragon soon, and fast. Our time is running out – Lucas must have sent his troops after him as well." Gretchen exclaimed. "From the investigations and exploration we've done today, the DragonLord should be somewhere near. We should-"
"Gretchen." Drew said. "I know you're anxious – all of us here are. But we cannot barge into things. We can't do anything for tonight – we've got some attention now." His eyes flicked to the left, bringing the group's attention to two DracoGuards standing at the door. They were whispering in each other's ears, and constantly looking in their directions. Whitley tried to stand up to confront them. "No, we shouldn't do anything suspicious already. We're all tired…let's just call it a day. Tomorrow morning, I swear I will find this WereLord. We will search the town again."
Reluctantly, the group nodded as they packed for the night. The rooms were simple but clean. The wooden beds creaked as they sat on it, but as fatigue overpowered all of them they simply drifted off to sleep.
The full moon was high in the cerulean sky, luminous silver disk of light flaring up the Drakewoods. Amidst the labyrinth of trees and bushes, a caravan rode on like a shadowy beast. A crest with a roaring lion on its side glimmered.
Rei was in the granary packing the cured meats when they came.
It was a good hunting season as Evaxus brought back many preys, ranging from jungle fowls to deers and even boars. The bones and tusks were made into cutleries and weapons and decorations. Rei has even constructed a bone flute for Evaxus to play melodies of the Dragons – mystical tunes so hauntingly beautiful. And today, Evaxus was out in the woods again, foraging for herbs and spices to store.
There were knockings on the front door and Rei shouted for them to enter, thinking that it was her brother. But as the party came through the front porch, she knew she had made a mistake.
It was a group of 5 men led by a hooded figure. He was shorter than the heavily armed guards, but there was a sinister aura of authority from him. On the shiny metal worn by the soldiers was a golden lion roaring to the sky – a crest of the LionGuards.
Instinctively Rei grabbed hold of a spear that Evaxus has made and went into a fighting stance.
"What do you want?" Her voice was calm but confident – throughout the years as she became much better and stronger, Evaxus has taught her some self-defence or two. She knew it will come into play one day.
"Ahh, do not be afraid, my Liege." The hooded man hissed and chuckled. "We're not here to harm you." He threw back his black hood, revealing a scarred, horrifying face – or rather, the remains of a face. The four LionGuards stared straight forward, avoiding glances to the misshapen contour. He peered into her eyes that shone a luminous green and a glittering brown. Then, his glance moved to her flowing golden hair that complemented her silk-like skin. "White…" He mumbled, and grinned.
"I'm sorry to have intruded thy humble abode, my Liege. I am Vankaskan, RatLord of Vermire, magister to our great sovereign Prince Lucas." There was a slight hesitant in his voice as he pronounced Lucas' title, but he continued. "I am here with my men to bring you to our court so that you can lend us your powers, my Liege."
Rei was confused – what was this man talking about?
"Do not be alarmed, we are not your enemies – if you join us, that is. I presumed the presence of a DragonLord that is found to be hiding in this corner of Lyssia will spark outrage everywhere – but the courts of the CatLords will protect you. We only ask for your allegiance." I see – so this representative of the Were-Lion are looking for Evaxus, but they mistook me as the DragonLord. If so, they should be one of the players of that prophecy he was waiting for – but the CatLords were never the Dragons' ally. They were the very ones that drove them to dead end in the first place!
I will not let them take you away, Evaxus.
"Join us, Dragonlord - and help us win this war!" Vankaskan cried out, a sharp forcefulness in his voice. "Ah, pardon me. Please, DragonLord, follow us back to where Prince Lucas awaits." The LionGuards that stood beside him has had their hands on the hilt of their weapons – it was normal for them to react in this way. After all, no one knew about the Dragons' powers, and who knew what this DragonLord would do?
"I see." Rei stuck the tip of the spear into the ground as she spoke in an authoritative voice. "How is it that you are able to find me here?"
"Please don't joke with us, my Liege." Vankaskan chortled. "I held the scroll speaking of the prophecy on your appearance, and we came to the territory of your clan here in Ziroga. The scent of magicks is strong here – don't forget that I am a powerful magister. But most importantly…let's just say that I have a secret weapon in tracking Dragon blood. This." The Were-Rat hissed gleefully as he held up a tiny vial of dark-red liquid. "Dragon blood reacts to Dragon blood, no matter how small the amount. Don't ask where we got this from – most importantly, you cannot deny the Dragon blood flowing in your veins."
"…" How should I get out of this? "I'm only a mere Keeper of books. If Prince Lucas is truly sincere about inviting me to his war, as his magister, bring him to me." This should buy us enough time.
"….." Vankaskan's face twitched as he growled. There were slobber dripping out of a hole in his cheek as his fingers seemed to slowly elongate into claws. "Don't push your luck, filthy reptile. Don't forget it was the Cats that have destroyed your kinds long time ago – and we can do it again. I know your plan – you are waiting for that scum of a Wolf, but alas, your idea will never come true." The LionGuards unsheathed their swords and pointed towards her. "Not silver, but decapitation will do the trick." Vankaskan laughed.
The Guards charged forward.
HAR! So long, eh? Took me quite a while.
I actually took away Evaxus' healing powers that he was so proud of, how cruel am I? XD''' Still, it was a keystone in this entire DragonLord tale, so I have no choice~
Sorry for the hiatus! I will work on the next chapter soon :)
What comes next? Teasers, of course 8D
"I don't know what is expected of me, but I will do this – to avenge my kins, my family."
"It's…it's the DragonLord! The Dragon still lives!"
"Lucas would have known about this. The storm of a battle is brewing."