Smoke and Mirrors Part One

Raylan followed the devasted Caroline through the gardens of the Nexus. She concealed her wet face under her hood, unable to let anyone see her like this. Deep down he knew she was so angry and upset with him for concealing the truth from her. "Carol…"

She spun around, anger and heartbreak painting her face. "How could you not tell me?"

"I tried to," he attempted. "But I could never find the right way. And when I tried again, it just got…"

"Just stop!" she shouted. "I can't talk about this right now! All I can think about is how I'm going to tell Ezran and Willow that our father is gone,"

"I'm sorry Carol I'm so, so sorry I didn't tell you,"

"You had no right to keep it secret! I should have figured it out from before," she smacked her face. "The band on your forearm fell off didn't it that night,"

He hung his head in guilt. "It did,"

"You knew he was dead and you didn't tell us. We should have been there. And we didn't even get to say our goodbyes,"

"Carol…" Raylan tried to reach her shoulder but she stood back.

"Get away from me!" she sprinted off into the distance. Raylan did nothing but watch her disappear into the garden's darkness, shedding his silent tears.

With tears falling uncontrollably down her face, she raced through the trees till she came to the cliff tops overlooking the valley below. She slumped on the grass, pulling her knees to her face and crying into them.

Zym sprinted through the forest trying to find her. Felix dashed after him, trying to catch up. When they saw Carol in their sight, crying into her knees, Zym read her mind and could clearly understand what powerful loss had crushed her spirit. Oh no.

What is it? Asked Felix.

It's her dad. Zym turned to him with a sad expression. He's dead.

Felix was paralysed with shock. He dropped down to the ground with his ears. I can't believe her dad's gone. Now she has no parents left in the world. And neither do Ezran and Willow.

They looked at the heartbroken girl and approached her slowly. They purred softly. She didn't look at them. They were ghosts to her. But as her head twitched, they crooned when they saw her wet green eyes. She saw their heartening faces and realised how much she needed them now more than ever. She held her arms out and they cuddled against her chest as she hugged them, giving her the comfort

I'm so sorry Carol. Zym nuzzled her face. I am so sorry you've lost your dad.

We're here for you. Felix licked her face.

She sniffled. "Thank you," She stayed in that spot right with her beloved companions and cried and mourned for the only father she ever had.

From the top of a tree, Raylan observed them, shedding tears of his own. He sat on the branch, his back turned to the moon and clutched his pendant thinking of his parents wondering where they were right now, and what had happened to them that day. Were they alive? Or dead?

Claudia was sniffling, shedding tears as she entered her room with Soren.

"How was your girl time?" Soren asked curiously. He paused when he saw how heartbroken she was. "What did that step-princess do to you?"

She fumed. "She didn't do anything to me, Soren!"

"Then why are you crying?"

Claudia calmed down, holding her forearms. "I told her the truth. About what happened to the king. And now I've hurt her in the most awful way imaginable,"

"Of course, she should feel hurt. It's her own fault. She caused have used her primal stone skills with that ball thingy to save him but instead, she turned and ran!"

She exploded again. "How can you say that?! She's now heartbroken that the only parent she had growing up is now gone…" she turned her face away. "Forever," she walked off. "We're bringing them all back tomorrow,"

"Seriously? Her too?"

"Yes. She didn't kill the king. The elves did. And they will pay for it. Now I'm going to bed. Good night Soren," she departed to bed at that instant, not wanting to say anything else.

The day came very quickly and the sun rose high. Willow was the first to wake up. Her prognostic gift hadn't given her any visions yet but something in her heart told her something was very wrong with her sister. "Ez…" she walked over to her brother's head. "Ez…wake up,"

Ezran yawned. "Morning sis. Did you know I was dreaming about a taffy hippo that was trying to eat me?"

"Yes. I saw it,"

Ez growled. "Honestly…how many more tricks are you going to keep playing with that future-seeing gift of yours?"

She smirked. "As many as I'd like. We should go check on Carol. I think she's somewhere in the forest," they left the rooms together and walked through the gardens, calling out their sister's name.

Carol had cried herself to sleep. Zym and Felix had fallen asleep in her arms as she lay her head and shoulder against the beds of soft grass. She felt herself rising, her slumber coming to an end. She looked out into the distance and saw the sun rising. She wiped a tear away.

Felix stretched his legs and Zym yawned. Are you okay? He asked her.

Sniffling, she shook her head. "How am I supposed to tell them?" she lamented. "How can I let them go through exactly what I did when we lost our mother? They were too young to grieve for her, but I was old enough to cry for days, weeks," Neither the dragonling nor the fox could give her an answer. To their regret, it made her cry even more. "It's all my fault. I never should have left him,"

Felix purred. No. It wasn't your fault. He gave you time to escape so we could take Zym back.

Carol couldn't understand him so Zym said, " Your father risked his life so you could escape to safety. That proves just how much he loved you. What happened that night wasn't your fault. Still, his words couldn't give her condolence.

Ezran and Willow's voices rang through the branches. Carol felt her heart jump. They were looking for her. What if Willow had foreseen Claudia telling her the tragic news? Could she tell them? "Do you two think you can go off by yourself for a while? I don't want Ezran and Willow to find out what's wrong yet," she implored.

Of course. Barked the baby dragon.

I'll go with him. Felix barked and nuzzled her hands.

"Thank you," she sniffled and gave them one last hug. "I love you guys,"

Zym and Felix pondered off into the woods taking one last look back at her and giving her reassurance. Carol hid behind a tree for a while as she watched her siblings coming into the clearing. "Carol? Are you there?" Ezran asked. "If this is some sort of a joke, it isn't funny!"

Carol took a moment to swallow her grief and wipe her eyes dry. She then took a deep breath and stepped out into the open. "Hey, guys,"

"There you are," cried out Willow. "We've been looking all over for you," they rushed to her but noticed the wet colour of her face. "Are you okay? I saw you were crying here in my dreams when I woke up. If it's that Soren again, I swear I'll…"

"Can we take a walk?" she suddenly asked. The two shared confused glances and nodded. The older sister took each of their hands in a motherly manner and they walked through the gardens together. "I want to talk to you two about life and growing up, and how there are changes you don't expect,"

"Is this about sandwiches?" Ezran asked.

"No. Not that," she said. "Guys…for a long time, I treated you guys like kids,"

"We are kids," Willow pointed out. "I mean Ezran's twelve but that still makes him a kid"

"No, it doesn't," he objected.

"Yes, it does,"

"Moving on," Carol quickly interrupted by an argument that could sprout. "The point is…I'm proud of you two because you've grown up. And when you grow up, it means that you have to face things you're not ready for you,"

"We know," Ezran answered.

Carol's throat twisted. "You know?" her worst fears were coming true.

"I know that one day I'll need to be king," Ezran let go of her hand and walked up some steps to look at the ruins. "And even with all the training dad might give me or all the support you two might offer, I'll know I'll never truly be ready to rule a kingdom because you've got to make smart choices that won't affect a lot of people or make big mistakes that could lead to conflicts,"

"You know you'll always have us to hang on to," Willow walked forward and clasped his shoulders. "And with my gift of premonitions, I can always help you ease conflicts,"

"Thanks, sis," said Ezran.

Carol began sniffling again. She turned around to hide her wet face, unable to contain her sadness any longer.

"Carol…what's wrong?" asked Willow.

"It's dad…He…he…" she tried desperately to speak the words but the truth remained squeezed in her throat. "I feel like I've been hurting him a lot,"

"Why would you think that?" Ezran asked.

"Because…because for a long time since mum married him, I've always been so nervous around him, scared that he might not treat me the same he does to you two,"

"Of course. Anyone would feel like that," Willow was deeply understanding her deep insecurities. "But that didn't stop him from wanting to love you like he loves the two of us,"

"When I ran away, I didn't realise how much it would hurt him. I thought I was hurting him by ruining his reputation by having me around even though I wasn't really his child like you two,"

"That didn't matter to him," Ezran consoled. "What mattered to him was that you were part of this family. And family is the most important thing. Something you taught us a long time ago,"

"Come here," Willow hugged her and Ezran joined in. Carol embraced them both, squeezing them a bit much to their surprise.

"Thanks, guys. You always know when I need a hug. I miss him," she said. "Now more than ever," As her siblings smiled and snuggled into her chest, she opened her wet green eyes and stared upwards at the bright sky wondering if their father's spirit was perhaps watching over them.

Zym and Felix observed them from nearby. Zym could sense that she hadn't told them the truth and purred in sympathy. Carol turned her head just slightly and saw them. "Hello, Zym and Felix,"

The kids dashed over to the puppy-like dragon and he bounded to them. And he licked Ezran too much to his delight. He had forgiven him for the failed flight attempt from the other day.

"Why don't you two go play with Zym for a while? Felix and I are just gonna take a walk and see Raylan,"

"Sure. See you later sis," Willow picked up a stick. "Wanna play fetch?"

Yes, please. Zym chased the stick and the kids went off to play.

Carol walked through the woods, carrying Felix who wanted to press his warm fur against her neck so she could still feel his love and comfort. She walked along the pathway but just when she turned a corner she saw Soren doing stretches. She turned her back and tried to walk away.

"You know that great king is dead because of you," he said sinisterly. She frowned. Felix leaned his head over and growled at him. "You could have stayed behind and used your magic tricks to save him from those elves," he stepped up to her slowly, every loud step sending a quivering vibration up her spine. "But instead, you abandoned him for some dragon egg and fled. Like a coward. You don't belong in Katolis,"

Carol flashed around but Raylan appeared between them out of nowhere and pointed his blade at Soren's chin. "Back off," he warned. "What happened that night was not her fault. She did all she could to protect her father. She wanted to stay behind and give her life protecting him. But he told her to take the egg to Xadia and that's what she promised she'd do. If anyone's to blame for what happened that night it's your father for his crimes. Now leave her alone,"

Soren glared at them both before walking away.

Raylan sheathed his blade. He turned around to look at her. She wasn't angry like the other night. "Are you okay?"

"Can we go and sit down somewhere?" she asked.

"Of course," he nodded. He led her back to the huts and they sat down together on a stone table. She placed Felix on the table and he lay down, curling his tail around his face.

Carol didn't look at Raylan but he sat close to her with concerned eyes, promising her that she wasn't alone and that he was there for her. "I tried to tell them…" she started. Then paused. "But I couldn't. "I understand now, why you couldn't tell me before. When you care about someone, it's hard to hurt them. Even if what you're telling them is the truth,"

"I still should have told you before. I had no right to keep it secret. I guess what I really wanted to do was to protect you from the pain. I was so afraid you'd feel so guilty for something that wasn't your fault. And after everything you told me…about your mother…I didn't want to bring any more loss into your life,"

"I think maybe I did know. And I thought deep down if I didn't think about it, it wouldn't be true and that everything would be okay. But it doesn't matter now," her face flooded with tears again. "He's gone. He's really gone," she cried into her hands.

Raylan gently touched her shoulder. She didn't shove him away. "I'm so sorry Cary," in all his years he had never felt sorrier for anyone other than her. He had never experienced such dejection watching someone so full of loss and heartbreak. Humans were indeed more full of feelings than many elves thought.

She sniffled and suddenly hugged him. "Thank you, Ray," He held her tight, stroking her hair as she cried into his shoulders and shed a few tears of his own.

Gren and Corvus stood in front of the two mages, still tied to the tree. It had been a long night and they'd yet to get any information out.

"Would you be so decent as to give us any food?" Delmar demanded.

"You'll get your food when you tell us what you want with the princess," Corvus said.

"We will never betray our cult," Tellus spat at his feet.

Gren slammed his forehead. "This is ridiculous Corvus. The longer we stay here and ask them, the higher the risk we lose the children. You go and get them before Claudia and Soren find a way to reach them. I'll guard them. Once we know the children are safe, we'll interrogate them in a prison,"

Corvus nodded, agreeing they had been wasting time with these stubborn mages. "Don't underestimate them, Gren," he jogged off into the forest, getting as far as he could to try and reach them.

Gren sat down in front of his prisoners. "Look, we can do this the easy way. Or the hard way,"

"We dare you to do the hard way," Tellus insisted. "We've been trained to withstand all methods mankind dares to use against us to exploit our secrets,"

"I'd heed your friend's advice if I were you," warned Delmar.

"If scaring me is what you're trying to do," the soldier crossed his arms. "You failed," He would not give up no matter what.

Mid-day came and Carol and Raylan walked slowly down some stone steps. They observed the kids playing with Zym. Felix bounded over to join in. Once Zym saw him they got into a wrestling match and the fox was easily able to beat the little dragonling much to the amusement of Ava and Bait. The princess observed them both despondently and happily. She had cried again for a few hours, Raylan doing all he could to comfort her. She had managed to calm herself down for now. But she knew there would come a time soon when she would have to tell her siblings the heart-breaking truth.

Raylan didn't want to keep it secret from them any longer but he agreed it wasn't the right moment. They just hoped it wouldn't be brought up before their quest was over. Seeing how conflicted she looked, he reached for her hand and held it. "We're going to get through this. Together,"

She sniffled, wiped a tear away and nodded. "We're leaving. Today,"

"'Leaving'?" Claudia's voice made them jump. They turned to see her and Soren approaching them. Carol frowned seeing her bully again, remembering all the cruel things he said about her abandoning her father to get killed. She controlled her temper and focused on the shocked Claudia. "I'm sorry. But we're not coming home,"

"Carol…how can you even think of trusting him?" Claudia pointed an angry finger at Raylan. "He kept the truth from you. He knew all along. Are you seriously stilling along with him after everything?"

Carol was silent for a second. "Yes," Claudia was more appalled than ever. Her close friend was choosing an elf over her. "I still trust him," she whole-heartedly announced. Raylan was stunned by her devotion to their alliance turned friendship. "He only kept the truth from me because he didn't want to hurt my feelings,"

Before Claudia could speak, Soren stepped up. "His kind killed your father. So you're gonna come back with us, even if I have to drag you and that dragon every step of the way,"

"You listen here Soren," Carol marched up to her childhood bully. "You can do whatever you want to me. You can mock me, insult me, push me in the mud. But you will not do is stand a baby dragon and its mother. He's going back to his home and that's final,"

"Carol…" Claudia spoke up quickly but Soren could give out any more insults. "Our father sent us to bring you and your family back. And we trust him and you should too,"

"Did he tell you that he was banished from Katolis?" asked Caroline.

Claudia was stunned. "What?"

"My father banished him for treason and he and Soren were gonna take me away,"

"Such lies!" blabbered Soren. "That step-princess is lying!"

Raylan jumped in. "Why don't you just go away and bug someone else? It's what you do best,"

Soren tried to speak again but Claudia just nudged him. "Just go," she begged.

He growled and stomped off, punching a tree in anger. Some Moon moths floated around and he yelped in fright, pulling his sword out and waving it around. "Stupid mothers!"

Claudia remained conflicted. Carol knew she had to realise who the real enemy was.

"I'm sorry Clauds, but you can't trust your dad. He caused my father's death by killing the king of the dragons and provoking this assassination,"

"And he tried to kill her that night the…the king died," Raylan spoke up.

Carol looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"That night when we fought to hold the elves back, I saw Viren raise his staff at you and I managed to deflect him. He wanted to kill both of us that night. Even though we were working together,"

Carol felt more flabbergasted than ever. She felt no anger at Raylan. Viren had already done an awful thing to her and it was already enough for her to know he was a bitter sinister human. "If we take this innocent baby back to him…" she continued, imploring her to close human friend to see things through her point of view. "…he'll harm it for his gain. Returning it to Xadia is the only way to stop this war and save our home. I promised my dad I would do that, and I intend to do that. I will not him down," her words didn't seem to sway Claudia. "Please Clauds…if you're really my friend, then please understand why we must do this,"

The dark mage rubbed her forearms. "I understand," she said. Carol was relieved. Raylan's instincts however kept him feeling suspicious. "Which is why I'm coming with you,"

"Oh no. You are not coming," Raylan suddenly disagreed.

"Why not?!" she demanded.

"Because I don't trust you,"

"I'm the children's friend. I can keep them safe,"

"And I can't?"

"Guys!" Carol stopped them from arguing. "We're on the same side. Aren't we?"

Claudia looked into Raylan's fuming eyes. "We are," she stood back.

"Claudia, if we're going to let you come along…Soren has to return to Katolis," said Carol.

Claudia was more appalled. "What? He can't go back by himself,"

"We're not that far away!" argued Raylan. "And I firmly agree with her. He knew I defended the king and yet he attacked me. And he stopped Carol from trying to warn him. It's either you come and he goes, or you both go,"

Taking a hurtful look at Carol, Claudia simply said, "I need to think about it," she walked off.

Carol sighed seeing her rejected face. "I wish it didn't have to be like this," it had crushed her heart telling Claudia the truth about her father's lies and brutality. It was easier to tell this painful truth compared to how she had tried to tell the heart-breaking to her siblings.

"You did the right thing telling her," consoled Raylan. He glanced over at their friends still playing with Zym and the animals. "You know we're gonna have to tell them sooner or later,"

Carol sniffled. "I know,"

"I wanted to thank you for what you said,"

"I really did mean it. We started this together. We might as well finish it. I know it's what he would have wanted,"

Raylan felt warmed by her words but the thought of Claudia joining them made him quarrelled.

"What is it?"

"There's something about her that I don't quite trust,"

"How do we know if it's a trick or not?"

Raylan's mind clicked again. "Get everyone ready to leave. I'll be right back,"

That's another chapter done. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you again for your support. See you all soon