Fire and Fury Part One
By the time it was nightfall, the team had safely retreated high up into the mountains to a well-hidden cave. It was dark already and the children along with Zym, Felix and Bait were already fast asleep. Raylan had volunteered to take the first watch. One of the team however couldn't get to sleep.
Carol sat with her legs dangling over the edge. She had searched through Caldor's book several times but she could find nothing about the Key of Aaravos that she was holding in her hand. She stared at it, wondering about its unique capabilities. As she looked at it, her mind bounced back to the mages on the ship. She wondered what kind of people they were. What could they do with a cube-like this?
Raylan saw her sad posture and approached her. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm just really worried about Caldor. Aside from my dad, Aunt Amaya, Gren and the kingdom's cleric Opeli who was my nurse, he was the only adult friend I had. He taught me so much about Xadia and what magic was like," she stroked the cover of the book. "He gave me this book but now I'm wondering how he got his hands on it,"
"Why were you looking at the cube like that?" asked Raylan.
"I'm trying to find answers about it but I can't find anything,"
"How do you know it's so special?"
"Because my dad said so in his letter. He said it's called the key of Aaravos, a powerful master of all six primal sources. Do you know anything about him?"
Raylan went into deep thought. "I've heard rumours of that name but I know nothing about him,"
"Well, my dad thinks it's my destiny to find out what this key unlocks. And I will not let him down. And I can't let it fall into the hands of those mages who tried to kidnap us,"
"What else are you thinking about?"
"It turns out those mages tried to capture me when I was a kid. And my dad had to keep me constantly watched over,"
Raylan was shocked. "What?"
"He thinks it's because I was saved by a star unicorn. Maybe somehow they knew and they thought…" She struggled to think of an answer. "But I know there must be more to it than that,"
"When my adoptive fathers rescued me from the mages, Runaan destroyed their leader's Star Primal ball. Maybe he thought if he could harness the magic inside you that the unicorn healed you with, it might give him his powers," he clasped her shoulder protectively. "But I am not going to let anything happen to you," she smiled. "I promise. As soon as we reach Xadia, we'll be safe," although she was touched by his devotion to protecting her, he could see the anxiety that was turning her face pale. "I know you want us to rescue your friends but we can't risk Zym's life. That's not what they would have wanted either,"
"If I only had my Primal stone, perhaps I could have used magic,"
"That wouldn't have been enough," he warned gravely. "Once we get to Xadia, we just have to cross a river of lava,"
"And how do we do that? One does not simply walk into Xadia. And if we can find a way through, maybe the mages can,"
"There is a secret path. The moonstone path which only Moonshadow elves know about. None of the mages will know about it. Hopefully. Come on. You should get some sleep. We need to leave early tomorrow if we want to stay ahead of our pursuers,"
Knowing he was right and already yawning, Carol packed up the cube and the book and lay down next to Felix who curled up beside her. Raylan pulled his cape over her warming her up before sitting down at the cave entrance and keeping a protective concentrated lookout. As he stared out into the distance, he saw the shadow of a mighty creature shooting across the sky, shadowed by the dark clouds.
Meanwhile, in the dark of the night in the forest, Soren, Claudia, and the mages with their prisoners rode through the forest, the three prisoners, gagged and hands-bound behind them, being pulled along much to their weariness.
"Could have helped if you had got us to shore faster," complained Soren to the ocean mage.
"My magic has limits," Telmar said heatedly. "Still, we caught up to them,"
"Yeah but now, we've lost the trail," complained the brother. It was true they had. Thanks to the combined intelligence of Raylan and Caroline, the team managed to cover their scents and divide the playing field for extra precaution. Still, the search party would not give up until they were found.
"You!" Claudia pointed ahead. "A town!" Ahead of them was a huge town protected by a tall round wall like a fortress. "We can drop off our prisoners and cover more ground!"
Corvus muffled loudly with his gag much to the annoyance of Castor. "Get him to shut up!" Still, Corvus wouldn't stop mumbling. "What are you deaf?!"
Larius hopped off his mount and pulled the gag out of his face. "If you untie me, I can track down the children for you. You, cloaked guys, can have your elf and we'll go in peace,"
"As if we're gonna fall for that," said Castor. "And don't you think of trying anything Caldor or should I say Ihar,"
Caldor sighed, being called that old name again. Corvus was gagged and they were dragged towards the town. As they did, the moon mage raised his head and he could see a hawk flying high above them. His hawk. They were escorted into the town where they were greeted by legions of guards.
As they approached the town, Castor pulled out a few moon moths from his supplies. Then casting a spell, he created illusions over himself and three of his prisoners, giving them the appearances of young travellers in cloaks.
Claudia eyed them wearily. "For extra precaution,"
"We are here on behalf of Lord Viren, the high mage," announced Claudia.
"We mourn for the beloved death of King Harrow," said a soldier.
"We would like you to escort these three prisoners to a town jail," said Castor, gesturing to the prisoners behind him.
"And who are you sir?" a suspicious soldier questioned, finding him strange.
"They're with us," said Soren.
"They don't like they're from Katolis…they look like Xadian people," some soldiers pointed the spear at them.
"We are insulted," said Tellus. Though he was comfortable with his disguise, he was desperate not to blow their cover. "We are travellers from Del Bart and we humbly come here with her Katolian friends,"
"It's Del Bar," corrected Soren. "And the correct term for people in Katolis is Katollians,"
Behind his gag, Gren giggled a bit but Corvus and Caldor eyed him coldly not liking his humour for one minute straight.
Still, the soldiers were weary. "We've brought you prisoners have we not," challenged Larius.
The soldiers ignorantly grabbed Corvus, Gren and Caldor escorting them to the prison. Caldor looked back and he could see his prisoners sending a cold grin over at him. They were going to come back for him soon.
"Uh, what's that?" spoke up Soren. He pointed upwards. High above them was a mighty dragon of red and gold.
"It's been circling around the town for the past three days," said the soldier.
"Well, then why isn't it flying?"
The men were escorted to the jails. They were ungagged and untied from their ropes before they were tossed into a big cell. The door was locked and the soldiers stood guard at the entrances.
As Caldor stood up, he was meant by the angry faces of Corvus and Gren. "I know you both have every right not to trust me,"
"How could you lie to us?" Corvus forced him against a cell wall.
"I didn't lie. I only kept the truth of my real identity from you,"
"That is not the same thing,"
"When did you plan on telling us those guys were your brothers?" Gren demanded. "If you're one of them, you know exactly what they want with Caroline,"
"I'm not one of them. They are brothers to me no longer," he took a moment to calm down. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys. I've tried to bury my past for years,"
"You mean to tell us that you've done terrible things with this cult more like this family or yours?" question Corvus.
Caldor sighed. "Yes," he confessed. "But I turned away from that path a long time ago. I came to Katolis for a fresh start but I have never intended any harm to come to anyone. Especially the children,"
"So, I take it we're the first to know?" Gren asked.
"No. Only Queen Sarai and General Amaya knew the truth. When my Sky brother and I rejected the cult and betrayed our brothers. They said they would keep it secret from everyone in the kingdom,"
"Why?" asked Corvus.
"Because I saved their lives,"
"And…" Gren drifted off.
Caldor paused. He didn't want to reveal any more but he was to win their trust back again, he had to tell them the truth.
Claudia, Soren, and the disguised mages went to the top of a tall tower with a ballista. They eyed the dragon flying around in circles.
"It isn't attacking," said Delmar. "It seems as if it wants to intimidate us,"
"Well then let's show it that we humans and mages don't like to be intimidated," said Soren, walking over to a ballista.
"I hardly believe those contractions will take down a mighty dragon," said Lairus. "We'll be shooting it down with magic,"
"Hey. You're disguising yourselves. You use magic. You'll blow your cover and my sister and I will get locked up. So, my way," boasted Soren.
Castor growled but Soren would heed his tone. He launched a ballista. The dragon's large blue eyes saw it. It duck. The tip crashed into a tower top. It flew into the air. "Ha! See magic man! I scared it off!"
Raylan had fallen asleep on watch. Carol and Ezran were peacefully sleeping with their animals. Willow began fidgeting. She began saying things in her sleep. She jolted up breathing heavily.
Ezran woke up to the sound of her hyperventilating. "Easy. Easy. It's okay," he hugged his sister to comfort her. "You're all right,"
Willow took in a deep breath. "I saw a dragon. Being fired at. Shot down," she panted. "And I saw Caldor…and Gren and Corvus…escaping,"
Ezran sighed in relief. "That's good news right,"
"We can't be certain," Willow looked at their sister. "Ezran I really think we should tell Carol what I saw. I can't keep this secret from her anymore,"
He sighed. It was no coincidence that they had seen Caldor held prisoner by those mages. She was right. They looked at their sister. Before they could wake her, they heard a thunderous roarrrrrrrrr!
Carol and Raylan were jolted awake. "What was that?" he panted.
"Guys! Look!" Willow ran out of the cave into the open air. The others followed. Zym tried to follow but Carol stopped him.
"Stay here," she said. "Felix, stay with him,"
I will. He barked.
Together the two teens and two kids stared out into the night sky and they saw the mighty red roarer firing up the town.
"Why is it attacking the town?" asked Raylan. He knew often dragons weren't like that despite what humans said about them.
"It was attacked," breathed Willow, pale that her vision had come true. "When it didn't even attack anyone,"
Ezran rubbed her shoulders.
"You don't suppose the mages and the others are there do you?" Carol asked, becoming afraid for their human friends.
"They might be," said Raylan.
"I have a feeling it's Soren who fired at that dragon," Willow said bitterly.
"Of course," her sister agreed. "He wouldn't waste any opportunity to harm an innocent dragon just to be boastful,"
"We've got to do something," said Ezran.
"We can't," said Raylan. "It's too risky,"
They did nothing but watch the mighty creature torch the town, attacking humans to defend itself. Flames and smoke clouds rose into the sky, scorching trees, and forestlands.
The dragon had destroyed much of the ballistas. Soren tried, again and again, to shoot it down as it burnt roofs and nearly killed people.
"Seems like we'll do this my way," said Castor, shoving him aside. He pulled out a box. "This Gryphon eye will make the large harpoon fire towards it.
"May I see?" requested Claudia.
"As you wish milady," Castor opened it and she awed. Soren however shuddered in disgust. "Would you like to have the honour?"
"Yes please," Claudia took it gladly. As the mages prepared the ballista, she cast a spell and the gryphon's eye turned the arrow a bright purple. Then as the dragon saw them and flew down upon them, it was launched. It dodged it.
"Your plan didn't work!" complained Soren at Castor.
"You complain again I will suck every drop out of your body till you're dry as crips," Delmar threatened coldly. "Got it?"
Soren squeaked like a five-year-old kid. "Got it,"
"Watch," Castor pointed to the glow harpoon. It sprouted wings of purple energy and it soared behind the red dragon who fired at the tower levels the group were standing underneath. They fell apart, crashing onto the ground far below but they retreated to cover.
The dragon attempted to fire again at them but it saw the magic harpoon flying after it. It dodged. It flew higher and higher but the tip of the enchanted weapon pierced its side.
"No!" cried Willow in tears. The team gasped when the dragon had been struck by dark magic. They watched as it soared high into the sky, trying to get as far away from the torched town but its strength grew weak. As it circled, it plunged from the sky heading towards them.
"Duck!" Raylan pushed the royals down and they watched as the dragon crashed into the forest, knocking down trees and scraping against hard soil and rock. They looked up and they saw clouds of dust and a hectare of forest debris.
"Oh my gosh," Carol was shocked to the core. What they had just seen before them was so brutal.
"Where's Willow?" Ezran spoke up.
The teens realised she had disappeared. "Willow! Willow!"
"She must have gone after the dragon," said Raylan. "You two stay here! I'll go and find her!"
"No. We all go and find her," Carol was not afraid of anyone. Not the mages. Not Claudia. Not Soren. "We won't let you go alone,"
Knowing there was no changing her mind, Raylan said, "Stay close to me you two," Carol dashed back to the cave and knelt before Zym, Bait and Felix. "You guys need to stay here. Until we get back,"
Don't go. Zym begged.
Don't worry Zym. I'll be all right. She cupped Felix's cheek. "You're in charge, Felix,'
I won't let you down. He licked her face.
Why does he have to be in charge? Complained Bait angrily.
Carol left the cave and joined the boys. They ran down the mountain and into the forest, following Willow. It was nearly sunrise and the sky was becoming brighter. They had managed to catch up with the youngest member of their party. They passed some bushes and before was a heartbreaking sight. Willow was standing still, hands over her mouth. The poor dragon was hurt, scarred, and unawakenable.
"Willow," Carol touched her shoulders. Her sister cried. "It wasn't your fault,"
"How could they do this? To an innocent creature who never hurt anyone?" she sobbed.
"Is it…dead?" Ezran drifted off.
Raylan approached it solemnly. He knelt before the fallen creature, touching its scales. He felt no movement, nor any warmth. Just then, he felt a slight touch of dragon breath from its nostrils. "It's all right. He's alive,"
"You mean she's alive," Ezran corrected.
Willow breathed out for joy and fell to her knees stroking the dragon. "It's all right. We're gonna help you. I promise,"
That's the first half of this episode done. What did you all think of the prison scene? And the new dialogue? I hope you all enjoyed it. The next half of this episode should be up next week unless otherwise. See you all soon. Please keep sending reviews and ideas. Also, I would love to hear from all of you about what you all think will happen in the next season of Dragon Prince. Until then, bye for now.