A/N: I know. It has been a long time. An incredibly long time. I now have a 5-month-old daughter. The last time I posted a chapter was before I was pregnant. So, yes. It has been a while. I actually had to reread parts III and IV of this story so I could remember what happened so I could write this chapter... Calls have been slow at work these past few weeks, so I bet you can guess what I've been doing when I'm not on the phone with a client. (I work at a call center). I figured I would write another chapter for the lovely folks who are STILL reading! For those of you still reading, thank you so much! I'm glad that you enjoy my writing! I truly and sincerely appreciate you!
Anyway, I am going to proofread and post this before Miss Kicky Feet wakes up from her nap. Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: Everything and everyone in this chapter is mine. Besides Roy, of course. Roy Harper is a character owned by DC Comics.
Part IV: Unraveled: Chapter Forty-Nine
Previously…
Roy and Damiana have made the endless journey through Provinces Eight, Seven, Six, and Four in an attempt to repair Black Shadow's rift machine. Their time left on Dabnod is little more than a month, and the two Titans are starting to feel the pressure. For the longest time, they were beginning to think that repairing Black Shadow's device and escaping Dabnod was hopeless. It was cracked and without a fuel source. However, nothing seemed as hopeless as warning the Dabnodians of their planet's coming destruction.
Thankfully, their luck changed in Province Seven. Due to a vast mining industry heavily depended upon by the Capital City, materials perfect for minor repair work on the rift machine were located. In addition, a reliable blacksmith was found who could make the repairs. Blacksmith Ret was the gentleman's name, and he commented on the device's odd mechanics and intricate system. Damiana and Roy explained their peculiar situation. Blacksmith Ret was a rare gem who did not scoff in disbelief at their tale.
Before departing from the Province Seven town of Jyn, Blacksmith Ret proclaimed his belief in Damiana's and Roy's story as well as in Prophet Veng's divination. Rather than following them, however, he promised to construct escape pods. With Province Seven's resources and everyone's combined technological knowledge, it is something that they should be more than capable of doing.
Province Six held even greater promise for the Titans. A seaside fishing town had access to something not beheld by their eyes in months - a library. Hours of research led to two discoveries. Firstly, a method for constructing an effective fuel chamber. Secondly, components for crafting a powerful fuel source. Not only were the crack in the side and the hinge on the top repaired, but they'd also managed to use plitkin metal and pulk paint to craft a working fuel chamber. Pulk paint is specialized so that it nullifies massive amounts of energy when used in large portions and stabilizes massive amounts of energy in small portions. Pulk paint was also easily accessible, which made it easy for them to find.
To their dismay, constructing the source for the fuel will be far more difficult. A power supply strong enough to tear open a rift cannot be found naturally on Dabnod. It can only be crafted. A ser stone is one component that is needed - a yellow stone that produces a dull, electric, charge. A rare form of red clay, known on Dabnod as vengat, is also required. This transforms the dull electric charge into a form of pure energy. The only way for a ser stone and vengat to work together, however, is if they are combined on a molecular level. This transformation can only happen with the use of a zirgnant tool - a tool so rare that it can only be found in the Capital City, and even then, it may still be difficult to locate.
Thankfully, Roy and Damiana were able to purchase a ser stone at a trading post in Province Six. Three weeks later, they were able to locate vengat in the bustling Province Four city, Sclarthon. Reaching Sclarthon wasn't an easy journey. They were kicked out of every border town in Province Six due to the townspeople's dislike of Prophet Veng. They encountered the charred ruins of Province Five and stopped briefly at a demolished town to pay their respects. To avoid fully entering the ruins of Province Five, they had to spend a nauseating week on a boat carrying passengers to Province Four.
Once they had entered Province Four, the four days that they spent in Sclarthon weren't any less eventful. Not only were Roy and Damiana able to obtain the vengat that they so desperately needed to fuel Black Shadow's rift machine, but the two Titans came across an entirely unexpendable resource - fifteen-year-old Adriel of the Ground Badger Clan. Their squadron wandered into the restaurant where Damiana was working as a cook to earn money for the vengat. The rest of the squadron saw Damiana, and despite their surprise at her uncanny similarities to Queen Guayusa's eleven-year-old apprentice, forgot about her. Adriel, on the other hand, had not forgotten in the slightest.
He followed the Damiana look alike only to discover that she was, in fact, the same Damiana as the eleven-year-old he knew back in the Capital City. It was only after getting over his initial shock, and Roy and Damiana overcoming their anxieties at running into a past version of Adriel, that the Ground Badger agreed to help. Not only did he give them the remaining money that they needed for the vengat, but he agreed to be their guide to the Capital City. "Do not travel with Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe all the way to the Capital City", Adriel warned them. He asked them to separate from the rural tribe of nomads and join him at a town on the border of Province Three and Province Two - the Town of Avarin.
It took a period of deliberation, but Roy and Damiana eventually agreed that meeting Adriel in Avarin was the best possible course of action. The route Adriel asked them to take is much quicker than the route the Fire Lily Tribe is taking, and they are running out of time to locate a zirgnant tool to complete the rift machine's fuel source. Prophet Veng did caution Roy against going to Avarin, but Roy disregarded the Prophet's warning. Time was of the utmost importance. Tenna, despite her leeriness, agreed that she and Caen would accompany them to Avarin.
At this point, Roy and Damiana felt satisfied. They repaired the machine's essential components and almost had a fuel source constructed. They were making progress! That night, however, the Fates decided to throw another bombshell at Damiana. That was their last night with the Fire Lily Tribe, so Prophet Veng decided to tell a story. A shocking, horrendous, story where Guayusa the Death Queen became pregnant with a child.
Monarchs on Dabnod hadn't reproduced for centuries. Dabnod's apprenticeship system was put in place to stop a dangerous, genetic, mutation from forming - a genetic mutation that only occurs when the most powerful of the Dabnodian clans begin breeding. During a dark era in Dabnod's history, Dabnod controlled two-thirds of the Andromeda Galaxy. Those residing on Dabnod were terrified of the power the monarchy held because of their unmatchable elemental powers and overthrew it. If Queen Guayusa truly had a child in an attempt to reinstate Dabnod's bloodline monarchy, that would truly be the most wicked act that a Dabnodian ruler could commit.
The distress that Damiana experienced that night was inconsolable. Or, at least that's what she thought….
Light streaks inside the tent through the narrow slits that surround the entrance. It enables Roy to see Damiana's peaceful, slumbering face. The girl is more relaxed than he has seen in the months since their arrival on Dabnod. She doesn't stir. There is nothing pensive about her expression. Her soft snore and agape mouth tell Roy that she is in the deepest pits of unconsciousness that her mind can conjure. He'd never thought about it before, but until this very day, he had never truly seen her in a state of unbothered sleep. The archer isn't sure of what possesses him, but he kisses the top of her head and pulls his alien teammate closer. She snuggles more firmly against him.
This is not something that Roy has experienced before. Sex is nothing new. He has done that before. But passionate lovemaking? That is completely new and completely foreign. He isn't sure what to make of it. He also isn't sure what to make of himself. His teammate was buck naked, standing in the center of the pond with the lilac moon glistening off her moistened skin. Thick, curled, locks shifted from their gloomy shade of black to bright orange. Stormy gray eyes ignited into copper like a switch had been flipped. Everything about her beckoned him. Damiana looked as enchanting as a siren. As ashamed as he is to admit it, he could not say no. Roy's self-control completely collapsed. Damiana begged during an instance of intense emotional pain, and he caved.
The worst part? The archer doesn't regret it. Hot lips crushing hot lips. Flesh moving against flesh. The cool waters of the pond lapping at their feet. The dewy grass and aromatic flowers mingling with the smells of sweat and bodily fluids. Damiana's warmth and wetness. Her moaning. Begging him to keep going. Not to mention, her kisses. Somehow, her kisses made all the difference. Her kisses, combined with how they remained collapsed and unmoving for several minutes. This isn't at all like the dozen hookups with strange girls in public restrooms, the girl there one minute and gone the next. This feels different. So different. Roy doesn't have words for how different this feels. He couldn't explain it if he tried.
So, Roy doesn't try to rationalize it. Instead, his mind flashes back to words that were spoken to one another the night prior:
"Everything is going to be okay. It doesn't matter how bad things get on this planet. I won't let anything happen to you. We will get back home to Titans Tower and Adriel and Saeran and everything will be okay. I promise."
"Thank you, Roy. I won't let anything happen to you, either. I promise."
The redhead gazes upon her sleeping form, smiles gently, and kisses her forehead once more. He is hoping that she won't wake up. He needs more time to process what exactly happened last night. As luck would have it, that second kiss causes her to stir. The very next instant, her thick lashes are fluttering open. Cheeks immediately flush when their eyes meet, and all of Damiana's features shift to magenta. Thankfully she doesn't pull away. Damiana merely stares at him, uncertain of what to say.
Somehow, her flustered gawking is all it takes for him to regain his bearings. The archer gently tugs one of her magenta curls and smirks. He can't see his own facial expression, though he doesn't need to. All Damiana sees is an odd yet comforting combination of teasing and fondness.
"Good morning, tiger!"
Her glowing face is immediately buried in the palms of her hands. Magenta ringlets are blinding. Roy chuckles, but not mockingly. Pulling her hands back by the wrists, the archer gives her what is meant as a kind, reassuring, kiss. He pulls back immediately and releases her wrists, laughing lightheartedly.
"I'm sorry. I'm not trying to embarrass you. I couldn't help myself."
At long last, the seemingly mute Dabnodian speaks. It's as if she's speaking in English for the first time. "I-I don't know what happened last night! I swear I don't! I-I… I g-guess I had a…moment…"
His previously regained composure disintegrates. Roy isn't sure why or how, but his face is beet red. Damiana just described last night perfectly.
"Um…yeah. I guess I had a moment, too. I'm honestly not sure what happened, either. I just…lost it…" Silence lingers for such a long time that Roy is certain that he hears crickets despite being on a foreign planet. "I seriously have no clue what happened. In three months of traveling together, I have never lost self-control around you."
"Don't apologize!" the Dabnodian girl exclaims. Hair and eyes, which had just transformed back to their natural colors, are magenta once again. Her face retreats back into her palms. "I just mean that it sounds like you're about to apologize. Don't! I…umm…"
The smirk returns as quickly as it left. He gives another playful tug to her bright tresses. "If you're trying to tell me that you liked it, I'm flattered. I liked it, too."
He is trying to think of something else to say but has been struck speechless. Damiana pretty much openly admitting to enjoying herself was not quite what he imagined. Before he can think of what else to tell her, loud shouting comes from directly outside their tent.
"Roy and Damiana, get up and get moving! We'll never make it to Avarin before nightfall if we don't leave now!"
Tenna's booming voice causes both of them to scramble. That's right! They're splitting from the Fire Lily Tribe and meeting Adriel in the Province Three town, Avarin, today. They don't have a moment to lose! Roy forgot about everything else that happened yesterday until now.
As Roy adorns his tunic and Damiana her dress, the girl whispers, "We won't mention this back on Earth, right? This is going to stay on Dabnod?"
"It will. I promise that we won't bring up what happened on Dabnod. Everything will be back to normal the instant we're back on Earth."
"Farewell, Damiana, and Roy of the Flying Arrow Clan. Farewell, Tenna and Caen of the Jawirth Clan. We will meet again, be it in this world or the next."
A vast field of violet grasses separates the group of four from the animal-skin-clad Fire Lily Tribe. Even with the distance between them, Damiana can see the seriousness reflected in Prophet Veng's gaze. The old man is hoping that last night's tale got through to her. The girl isn't sure why she needed to know about Queen Guayusa potentially becoming pregnant in an attempt to reinstate Dabnod's bloodline monarchy. Dabnod is long gone in her time, and whatever child the Death Queen birthed is likely gone, too. Nonetheless, Prophet Veng told her, and now Damiana can never un-know what she has learned.
Damiana breathes in deeply through her nose and exhales slowly out of her mouth, trying hard to regain her composure. Eventually, she replies, "Thank you, Prophet Veng! We couldn't have gotten this far without you and your tribe's hospitality!"
"Goodbye!" Roy shouts across the expanse. "And thank you!"
The first half hour is spent walking silently. Damiana pulls out her map as they trek along. The City of Sclarthon, where they had been yesterday, was directly on the border of Provinces Four and Three. Less than twelve hours is what it took for them to cross over into Province Three. Their current destination, the City of Avarin, is at the far tip of Province Three. Once they are in Avarin, it will only take six, maybe eight, hours to cross into Province Two from there. Of course, this is only because they're taking the Kendet Strip. The Kendet strip is all flatland, with no hills, and it is the narrowest section on the map. The rest of Province Three is marked by mountains - the route that the Fire Lily Tribe is taking. Roy and Damiana haven't any time for the mountains - not if they want to find the zirgnant tool. Traveling through the Kendet Strip is a necessity.
Damiana knows why they prefer not to travel through the Kendet Strip. The region in Province Three is heavily patrolled by Royal Knights. During her last six months on Dabnod as a child, she recalls Adriel and Saeran consistently doing training missions in the Kendet Strip. If prophets are as despised by Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council as Adriel claims, then it makes sense that Prophet Veng is avoiding this area like the plague. Thankfully, she isn't one of the prophets, so there are no worries for her.
The internal phrase "no worries" suddenly causes her armband to weigh heavier. Not the polished copper armband bearing the symbol for the Flying Arrow Clan, but her golden Fire Phoenix cuff. There will be a ton of Royal Knights awaiting them once they emerge from the wilderness. The first thing all strangers notice, whether it is in the remote regions of Province Nine or the bustling streets of Province Four, is her jewelry marking her as a member of the Fire Phoenix Clan. Roy wasn't wrong with what he said earlier this week. Her Fire Phoenix armband draws a lot of unnecessary attention. It could be dangerous, and it almost was dangerous back in Sclarthon when Knight Master Urrvink's squadron recognized her… They got lucky that Adriel decided to help them instead of revealing them…
Her hand rests on the golden Fire Phoenix cuff, an index finger tracing the copper outline of the bird with outstretched wings. This symbol is her entire identity. Without her Fire Phoenix, Damiana doesn't know who she is. The girl allows her fingers to linger against the cool metal for a few more seconds, soaking in her identity one final time. Then the girl slides it off in one swift motion. Pausing in her steps, she removes her bag from her back and tucks the armband deep inside of it alongside Black Shadow's rift machine, the ser stone, and the lump of vengat.
"What are you doing?!"
Emerald eyes are gawping. Damiana jolts. She hadn't realized that Roy had been watching. Now, Tenna and Caen are watching, too.
"Wearing it is dangerous," she explains. "There will be twice as many Royal Knights in Avarin as there were in Sclarthon. I can't risk a repeat of what happened in Sclarthon. Besides, I have your clan symbol now. I should utilize it."
Shock does not become any less prominent. Thankfully, the archer nods in understanding. "I'm glad you're taking precautions. Thanks for that. You've made us a lot safer."
With that said, the group treks onward.
Tenna tries to ignore it, but she can't. It is impossible. The mountaineer has allowed Roy and Damiana to take the lead while she does her best to tend to Caen. It is difficult to keep her eight-year-old from scampering off in a random direction to chase a qwerthzig or to keep him moving when phoenixes fly overhead. But for once, it is not her oh-so-distractible son that captures the majority of her attention. Caen is jabbering away a mile a minute about a family of grass phoenixes that just passed by, and Tenna hardly hears a word. Instead, silver eyes narrow curiously as she observes Lady Flying Arrow and her husband.
They're conversing in Roy's Earth language, English. She can't fully comprehend what they're saying, but there are a few words that she can pick out. "Swimsuit" being one and "corn dog" being another. A swimsuit is worn for going swimming and a corndog is a type of food on Earth. There are key phrases that are comprehended as well. Damiana said "I need" before she said "swimsuit". Normally this would mean nothing to Tenna. Roy and Damiana speak of nothing besides the places and things that are on Earth, it seems. Today, however, it is impossible to miss how Damiana's features glow gold with joy when speaking with Roy. As for the human, he leans in closer to her than he usually does. His eye contact with her is also more frequent, and frankly, more intense. Tenna feels like she's spying.
"When we go to Earth, I want to go to the water park with Roy and Damiana! Roy just said that there are water slides there! I don't know what they are, but they sound fun."
Tenna laughs. She almost forgot how well Caen is beginning to understand the two of them. Caen understands more than Roy himself could probably fathom.
"We might not have to go to Earth, Caen. Dabnod might be okay. We'll see."
As usual, her words are in one ear and out the other. "Can I go ask Roy what a water slide is?"
Tenna is about to say yes. That very instant is when Damiana trips, most likely over a scurrying qwerthzig or a scampering qwernal. Roy catches her by the crook of her elbow and tugs her closely against him. The Noble Lady's tresses shift from gold to bright orange, and her eyes turn copper. Roy smirks in a way that reminds her of the way Ult used to look at her. Tenna's long braid turns magenta.
"Not right now, Caen. Maybe later." Thankfully, another family of phoenixes flies over. "Caen, look at those sky phoenixes!"
Thankfully, the small boy is instantly deterred. Tenna tries to distract herself with the phoenixes as well. When Roy and Damiana are interacting, even though they're only talking, it feels like something that should be private.
Throughout the entirety of their day-long journey, Damiana's mind continues flashing back to this morning's conversation with Roy. As the importance of Prophet Veng's story starts to fade, the reality of what occurred the night prior starts to fully sink in. All of that really happened, and it isn't just the soreness that she still feels between her legs that tells her this. It is the way Roy looks at her. It is a look that she has never gotten before from anyone. The way he would look at her in the past put her stomach into knots, but this new look is different. It doesn't put her stomach in knots. It makes both of her hearts stop.
"Don't think I forgot about the promise I made when we first landed on Dabnod. We're still going to Steel City Funland when we get back to Earth."
For some reason, this comment makes her smile more than it normally would. "I haven't forgotten, either. I need to taste a corndog at least once."
"Did I ever tell you that they have a water park, too, and not just roller coasters? If it's still summertime on Earth, we should go on the water slides."
"I would like that, but I need a swimsuit." Damiana giggles. She shouldn't find this funny. She should feel embarrassed by what she is about to say. Instead, she continues laughing. "I would say no bikinis and say that you can't touch me, but I think that we're way past that."
The archer smirks. "Are you planning on paying me back for months of embarrassing you by torturing me?"
"Maybe."
The expression on Roy's face says a thousand words. It is this that causes her to stumble. Before the girl can meet the ground, he catches her by the elbow and pulls her tight against him. What he whispers to her causes those very familiar knots to form in the pit of her stomach.
"Alright, fine. Tease me. I dare you to try it. I'll get you back."
Roy releases her instantly. In an attempt to change the subject, she asks what the archer's favorite ride is. While he goes into a detailed explanation, Damiana's single lingering thought is that Roy is wrong. Things will not go back to normal the instant they are back on Earth. Although, Damiana isn't so sure that this is a bad thing.
The sun was high in the sky. Now it is starting to drop, meaning that it is early evening. Roy is about to suggest to Tenna and Damiana that they stop and make camp for the night. That is when Caen, who'd sprinted ahead to chase a colorful, butterfly-looking, insect with six wings, hollers ecstatically.
"Zaesa, come look! I see a really big building!"
Tenna dashes ahead to catch up with the child, as do Roy and Damiana. Certainly enough, Caen is correct. A massive four-story structure awaits them. Beyond this single structure are many other towering buildings. Definitely not towering by Earth standards, but rather large. Excited to have finally reached their destination, the two teens and Caen dash ahead. Tenna eventually catches up, but only after shouting at them to slow down.
By the time they are upon the town, it comes to Roy's attention that Avarin is not much different from Sclarthon. The roads are paved with the same gold-colored, hexagonal, stones, appearing like the streets are made from honeycomb. People are covering every solitary inch of the road. There are uikin pulling covered wagons. Tall buildings are crafted from the grayish-pink rocks that Damiana frequently calls "rose stones". As similar as the two cities are, however, there are a few notable differences.
Avarin's buildings are longer and blockier whilst Sclarthon's buildings were taller with elegant arches. There are also more buildings and more people in general. It also seems like a hectic city. Sclarthon seemed a bit calmer. The most significant difference, however, is the Royal Knights. One-third, if not half, of the people meandering through the city are Royal Knights. Knights send chills down Roy's spine.
Thankfully, Damiana speaks before Roy can fixate too much on what such a heavy military presence must mean. "Adriel said that we need to go to the trading post to get directions to the Grass Phoenix Inn. I think that's the trading post right there."
The structure being gestured to is the tallest building in their sightline and also the narrowest. It must have five floors in total, each level being no wider than one of the cabins in Whisper Valley. What truly gives it away as being the trading post, however, are uikin and phoenixes tied up outside of it. One person leaves a uikin tied up outside, enters the building, leaves with an entire barrel of food, and leaves the animal behind. Knowing that the Lady of the Flying Arrow Clan is correct, the archer nods.
"That has to be it. I don't see any other place that could pass for a trading post."
The tall building is at the outermost edge of the city. It is positioned only a short distance behind the blocky, four-story, edifice. As their little group descends upon the nearest structure, the reality of their destination becomes more intimidating. Royal Knights stand at attention along the front of the building and far beyond it. What Roy hadn't noticed before is that there is a tall, wire, fence stretching out on either side of the structure. It isn't the same as a chain-link fence on Earth. The wires forming the grid-like pattern are much more narrow, and barbed, to boot.
A sight that causes Roy to instantly freeze, however, are the belts adorned by many of the Royal Knights guarding the fence. Their belt clasps are golden and bedecked by birds. The outlines of the birds on their belts are all too familiar - copper outlines of birds with outstretched wings. This is the first that Roy has seen anyone besides Damiana or Saeran bedecked by the Fire Phoenix Clan's symbol. The archer does not miss how her hair, previously rose red, becomes streaked by black. He reaches for her hand and grips it tight.
"Don't be so nervous, Lady Flying Arrow. It will be okay."
"I'm not nervous. Just relieved. Praise the Fates I took off my armband when I did!" Black streaks grow slightly thicker. "I just hope that they don't dig through my bag too thoroughly… If all of the Knights assigned to this checkpoint are from the Sky Serpent and Fire Phoenix clans, I might be doomed…"
As they approach, Roy pays special attention to each man's clan symbol. The two Royal Knights guarding the door seem to be from the same clan. The clasps on their belts are silver. A strange creature, a snake-looking reptile with six legs and four wings, is carved onto their belts' clasps and inlaid with bronze. Their demeanors are entirely stern. When the Knight to the entrance's left speaks, his voice is deep and grave.
"State your business."
They look, not at Damiana, but at Roy. The would-be Queen doesn't get as little as a second glance. Frankly, this is odd for the archer. Rarely has anyone on this planet viewed him in higher regard than Damiana. Said girl gives him a gentle nudge in the side with her elbow, prompting him to respond.
"We're just passing through. We need a place to spend the night."
"Clan and province?"
"Flying Arrow and Jawirth clans. We're traveling to Province Two."
"Never heard of you. Where do your clans hail from?"
Uncertain of how to answer regarding his clan, Roy gives the most accurate answer that he can think of. "Our clans were founded in Province Nine, but we travel a lot." Figuring a white lie can't hurt, he adds, "We have family in Province Two that we're visiting. My sister just had a baby!"
The Royal Knights regard him skeptically, but finally they relent. "Alright. You may enter."
The man to the entrance's right opens the doors with a large puff of air. They're trying to speak quietly, but the redhead still hears them as they whisper amongst themselves.
"Province Nine makes sense for those guys. Must be a Province Nine accent. He speaks very strangely."
"Forget his accent. They said they're going to Province Two…and his sister had a baby… Do you think that married couple was chosen for this year's crop of recruits at the Raxtin House? I've heard that some of those clans who live in the middle of nowhere are pretty powerful!"
Only after the doors fully close does the redhead ask Damiana what he wants to ask her, but he doesn't think that he will get a good answer. The girl's hair is lime green. "Is a Raxtin House a good thing or a bad thing? I can't figure out whether or not calling us powerful is a compliment."
"I couldn't tell you. I've never heard of a Raxtin House!"
The brief span that is spent in the large building passes them by in a whirlwind. Royal Knights mill about searching bags, shuffling papers, and in some instances, dragging people away to separate rooms. A woman in bright orange animal skin is one of the people being dragged away.
"Yes, I'm from Province Ten, but I'm not with the Prophet! I swear on the Fates!"
Before they can hear what the Knights dragging her away say to her, a metal door slams shut behind them. When Roy turns to face the others, he sees that nobody noticed what just happened. Damiana, Tenna, and Caen are all fixated on Damiana's bag as it is getting searched. Roy feels his blood pressure spike ever so slightly. Vengat clay, a ser stone, Black Shadow's rift machine, and a Fire Phoenix Clan armband. What isn't in that bag that could get them into trouble?!
It is only by some great, merciful, act of the Fates that nothing happens. When he opens the bag to discover what appears to be nothing but the blue, potato-like, vegetable called bintlits, the middle-aged Knight searching the bag rolls his eyes. "Of course. Bintlits. What else would I expect someone from the outer provinces to have on them?" The bag is thrust back into Damiana's arms scoffingly. "Here you go, missy. Don't spend all of those in one place."
Once outside, they breathe a collective sigh of relief.
"Why in Fates' names do you have so many bintlits in your bag?"
"They're easy to roast with my fire when I'm hungry."
Tenna rolls silver eyes at the Noble Lady. Roy, Caen and Damiana laugh. The day was saved by vegetables. The trading post that was spotted is now a short trek across the street. Snippets of conversation float past.
"It seems like there are more people than usual. The Annual Migration Festival is still a few weeks away - a little early for people to be flocking toward the inner provinces," says an older woman while binding what appear to be bundles of grain.
A younger woman rocking a baby answers her. They sit on the front stoop of a shop. "It may not be too unusual. I heard that the phoenix population is bigger this year than in the past few years. The migration is supposed to be quite extraordinary this year!"
"I don't know… Color me skeptical, but I don't think that's the reason for the massive number of people entering the city." Roy doesn't miss it when the woman's knuckles turn white as she tightly wrings the lilac-colored grain tufts that she is bundling. "Maybe the Royal Council's Raxtin Program is expanding?"
The mother tightly clings to her infant. "Sweet Fates, I hope not! My clan is a strong clan of water users! The last thing I want is to be recruited!"
Roy weaves past uikin and massive phoenixes and closer to the trading post's entrance, bringing him out of earshot of the two women. Okay… So the number of people walking the streets of Avarin isn't normal. This is also the second time in less than fifteen minutes that the archer has heard the word "Raxtin" used. Damiana is completely unfamiliar with that word, so the next best thing will be to ask Adriel when they meet later. Normally Roy wouldn't care what this foreign word means, but there is some strange stigma surrounding it.
Suddenly, the archer is unable to reach the front counter of the trading post quickly enough. Unlike every other trading post that they have encountered thus far, this one is neat and orderly. So surprised is the redhead that his movements are temporarily stunted. It seems one line is for people who want to trade their items for food. Another for fabric. Still another for jewelry. Toward the very back of the room seems to be a desk where people can ask for general information about the city. Tenna and Caen saunter over to the food line while Damiana and Roy go to the back counter.
"Excuse me, good sir!" Shouts the prior noblewoman to the gentleman sitting behind the desk. "We are looking for the Grass Phoenix Inn. Can you tell us where it is located?"
Meanwhile…
"Ugh, I wish we could have spent one more night in Province Four. Just one!"
"It's so serious here."
"I know! There are more Knights here than there were when we passed through a week ago. I know the inner provinces have always been strict, but this is nuts!"
Squadron Thirteen is venting freely as they get settled into their rooms - five boys in one room and five in the other. Each inn usually has a few rooms with five or more beds in case Knight Squadrons come through. The City of Avarin is no exception. Adriel is already unpacked and getting ready to head out the door. Saeran is distracted with their three other squadron mates who have been assigned this room, so the water user is certain not to miss him. Dami - sixteen-year-old Dami - is surely here with her Earth friend by now. Now that they're here, they need to know the instructions for getting to the next town in Province Two once they depart tomorrow morning. He should also be brainstorming with them to figure out how to obtain a zirgnant tool. The task won't be easy.
That, however, is when the Ground Badger's journey is brought to a halt. Knight Master Urrvink towers in the doorway. His hair and eyes are soot. "Full armor, men. Report to the city center immediately."
Oh no. Flashes of Province Five invade the Ground Badger's mind. He can already smell the burning. For a split second Adriel thinks that he is alone with his fears. Thankfully one of his squadron mates, a boy from the Water Flower clan, speaks up.
"Oh. What section of the city are we taking, Knight Master Urrvink, sir? There aren't very many cellars here, so house arrest will be more difficult. We may need more guidance than we needed in Province Five."
"Fates, no! There will be none of that! Just put on your armor and report to the city center. Make sure your breastplates and swords are polished!" Urrvink visibly winces. "We have a very special visitor."
The most accurate word that Damiana can use for this city's atmosphere is heavy. Every settlement she has journeyed to, both on Earth and Dabnod, has felt lively. There have always been children playing, people laughing, shopkeepers and customers chatting casually and friends openly enjoying each other's company. Not here in Avarin. Conversations with shopkeepers are kept brief. Children are held close to their parents, and the children are completely silent. Friends whisper to one another unsmiling. When Royal Knights pass by, whether the person is a man, woman, or child, they stand ramrod straight and wish them a good evening. The Knights always nod curtly in response and continue their rounds.
Damiana has never been afraid of Royal Knights once in her entire life. Knight squadrons, while highly structured and orderly when on duty, have always been fun-loving and easygoing when off duty. Of course, strict is different from scary. These Royal Knights are terrifying.
"I didn't do anything! I swear my allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Guayusa!"
Two Royal Knights are dragging an older gentleman, appearing in his early sixties, from his home. Their Fire Phoenix Clan belts cause the girl's features to turn charcoal. She has seen this duo during her rare visits to the Fire Phoenix compound to display her new fire-using techniques to the clan elders. They are her cousins, though she cannot remember their names. These two were always making jokes and pranking one another. Now here they are, dragging this poor man through the streets by his heels.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we were given orders. You need to come with us."
By the time they reach the Grass Phoenix Inn, only three blocks from the trading post, Damiana is ready to shut the door to their room and stay put until tomorrow's departure. Tenna and Caen are so shaken by the vast number of Royal Knights that they do not wish to have their own room tonight. Now they are staying in a room with two large beds. She and Roy will share one, and Tenna and Caen will take the other. Both of her hearts ache for the child. He clings to his mother frightenedly.
"Zaesa, are the Royal Knights taking more men like they took Zaetaka, Gael, Yit, and Daegan?" The little boy sobs bitterly.
"I don't think so, dear. I think something else is happening, but I'm not sure what." Tenna smooths the little boy's black bangs out of his eyes and kisses his forehead. "And remember, Daegan is still alive, so don't be too disheartened."
Damana and Roy share a long, woeful, glance. This is the first time that Tenna and Caen have spoken the names of Caen's brothers aloud. This makes Damiana shiver. When she notices that Tenna's charcoal eyes are welling with tears, the would-be Queen rests a hand on her shoulder.
"Maybe we should have followed Prophet Veng through the mountains. Coming to Avarin was a bad idea." A melancholy sigh is given. "I had no clue that there would be so many Knights here. I'm sorry."
"There is no reason for apologies," says the mountaineer. "We will get through this night and leave Avarin first thing in the morning."
Doing her best to act natural, Damiana removes bintlits from her bag in an attempt to make something for dinner. The small fireplace in the corner of the rented room will be just enough to make fried bintlits. Tenna bought a loaf of bread, fried gzrif, and fresh berries from the trading post, so this will make a good dinner for the four of them. There should be enough bread and berries left over for breakfast, too. Before they can do as little as light the fire, however, there is a knock on their door. It is less of a knock and more like frenzied pounding.
After an eternal second of hesitation, it is Damiana who answers the door. How he figured out which room they are in is a mystery, but Adriel the Ground Badger stands before them. He pushes his way inside the room and slams the door shut. His long ponytail, usually the same bright orange as the setting sun, is currently as black as the rest of their hair. Much to the girl's horror, Adriel is clad in full armor. The green and silver crest of Dabnod stamped onto his breastplate gleams at her.
Caen's frightened sobs echo. "P-please don't take anyone, sir Knight! Nobody did anything!"
"It's alright, Caen. This Royal Knight is different. He is our friend," says Damiana gently. Then she turns stormy gray eyes on the Ground Badger. "Adriel, why are you wearing full armor? Why are there so many Knights patrolling? What's going on?!"
Adriel shoves past Roy who loiters in front of the window and closes the curtains. "I don't have a lot of time to explain. I'm making my rounds telling people to clear out. I would tell you all to stay put, but our Knight Masters are going to double-check the rooms. If you stay here, you'll get caught, so listen to me closely." He opens the door briefly, sweeps the corridor with his gaze, and then shuts it once more. "Be in the city center in fifteen minutes. All inhabitants of the City of Avarin are required to go. Damiana, stay at the back of the crowd. Stay away from the front. Roy, the same goes for you. Stay out of sight as much as possible. If either of you are spotted, there could be trouble."
"Why is everyone being called to the city center? What's happening?" Color-changing hair isn't necessary for Roy. The archer's pale face reveals exactly what he is feeling.
"Something very…not good. Dami, you and Roy are very narrowly escaping a fate that could have been yours. Please continue following my instructions and stay hidden in the crowd. You might not be lucky enough to be spared twice." A bundle of black fabric had been tucked under Adriel's arm. He reveals two hooded cloaks, which are tossed at the two Titans. "If you don't listen to anything else I say today, then at least do what I'm asking and hide. We'll meet back here later once the…festivities…are over."
The Ground Badger retreats out the door as quickly as he enters, leaving the four of them in stunned silence.
"We should go to the city center," Tenna remarks at last. "If what he says is true and one of his superiors is coming to check the rooms, then we won't want to be caught straggling."
"Excellent work, Squadron Thirteen! The entire second floor is empty. Once we reach the city center, our task will be to secure the crowd. Nobody is to leave the city center until they are dismissed. Can anyone tell me the protocol for anyone who tries to leave?"
Saeran answers Knight Master Urrvink almost gleefully. Watching the water user nearly makes Adriel sick. "We give any deserters one verbal warning, and if they disobey, they are struck down."
"Correct. Dismissed."
Adriel leaves to join the other Knights on the street, already in his designated spot in Squadron Thirteen's formation. This is when Knight Master Urrvink hollers loudly.
"Squire Adriel, you must stay behind. Your presence has been requested by…our guest…in the penthouse suite. I will escort you there myself. The rest of you, to the city center at once."
"Yes, sir, Knight Master Urrvink!"
The Ground Badger separates from his squadron to join Urrvink at the foot of a wide staircase. Adriel is thoroughly horrified. Hair and irises have finally shifted back to their natural colors, and they are suddenly black yet again.
"Why does she want to talk to me? Did she tell you?"
Knight Master Urrvink's beard turns a deep shade of plum. "No. She didn't even explain the reason for her presence here. She showed up on her phoenix an hour ago without warning. Councilman Nine is here and has been here for weeks. I imagine she received a report and is here to follow up on it."
"With the entire city?!"
The middle-aged man frantically shushes him. "Lower your voice, Squire Adriel!"
"My apologies. I'm just…concerned…about the state of things. I can't handle a repeat of Province Five. I don't have it in me."
"Me neither, young squire. Me neither."
Ascending three flights of stairs doesn't take nearly enough time. Before either of them gets the chance to fully collect themselves, a young man dressed in a green and silver tunic is rapping on the double doors at the end of the hall. This man is not a Royal Knight, but an Attendant. However, there are two Knights on either side of him guarding the entrance. They wear Ground Badger Clan belts. The Attendant, coupled with the presence of his clansmen acting as guards, causes the reality of this situation to fully sink in. This isn't a hallucination. She really did come here.
"Your Majesty, Squire Adriel of the Ground Badger Clan has come to see you! The man's Knight Master is with him!"
The voice that calls back causes Adriel's steps to falter. He stops so abruptly that it is as if Saeran froze his feet to the floorboards. She sounds gentle and bell-like, but there is firmness barely concealed within that ladylike tone. Adriel knows. He has heard that firmness before.
"Adriel can enter. Urrvink can wait outside."
He doesn't want to enter. He wants to flee. A shove to the back from Urrvink, however, is enough to convince him otherwise. Trying his best not to shudder, Adriel enters through the double doors. Sitting on a cushioned stool in front of a vanity mirror, brushing long, rose red, curls is none other than Queen Guayusa of Dabnod. Long, slender, fingers grip the hairbrush daintily as she thoroughly untangles one section of ringlets at a time.
The gown she wears is bright yellow. Amber teardrop earrings grace her ears, and a matching pendant necklace decorates her slim neck. Golden rings glisten in the evening sunlight. Although, the most striking of her attire are the two armbands worn on her right upper arm. The top armband is gold. In its center is the silver and green diamond known as the crest of Dabnod. The bottom armband is silver. A bird with a lightning bolt being expelled from its beak bedecks the silver armband. It is inlaid with gold. The bottom armband always gives Adriel chills. There is nobody left on Dabnod besides her who wears that armband.
For a long time, he doesn't think that the Queen notices him. Then she speaks. "It is good to see you, young Ground Badger. I had an audience with your clan elders a few days ago. You never told me that you're moving beyond Master's Level techniques. That is quite impressive."
"Thank you, my Queen."
She puts down her hairbrush to observe him. The Queen doesn't smile, though she does her best imitation of one. "Come sit beside me. It has been far too long since our last visit."
His legs move as though made out of lead. Only after he is seated on the stool beside her does she resume untangling her hair. "Phoenix rides are dreadful! My hair is always a disaster afterward, but they are still the fastest way to travel." Smirking, she asks, "My Damiana seems to enjoy phoenix rides, though. When was the last time you took her on a ride?"
"It has been a while, my Queen."
"Then I order you to rectify that. Take Damiana on a phoenix ride the instant Squadron Thirteen returns to the Capital City."
"Of course, my Queen. I would be happy to indulge her."
"Since you are so happy to spend time with her, the Annual Migration Festival is in a few weeks. Perhaps you should accompany her. After all, my Damiana is very fond of you."
"Is she? I haven't noticed…"
The hairbrush meets the wood of the dresser with a thud. "Then you should start noticing. I know she is only a child right now, but one day Damiana will grow into a beautiful woman. Not only beautiful, but she will also be very strong. A strong and beautiful queen? Every man on Dabnod will wish that he could be as lucky as you. You will be the first Royal Family to exist in centuries."
"Of course, your Majesty. I am a lucky man. I'm so lucky that it's taking me time to process it."
Her eyes narrow at him. The bell-like voice is suddenly sharper than it was before. "You'd better process it soon. Your engagement is being announced in a few months on her twelfth birthday. Then it will only be a few short years until the wedding. You will wed when she is sixteen whether you like it or not."
"Of course, your Majesty. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Silence. Impenetrable silence. Adriel cannot break free from the venom of Death Queen Guayusa's gaze. At last, she speaks.
"You are dismissed, young Ground Badger. Keep practicing with your rock-using abilities. A King of Dabnod should be the strongest in his clan."
"Yes, my Queen."
"Good day, Adriel."
He couldn't possibly exit this room faster. Once he is at the end of the corridor and out of sight of the Queens' guards and her Attendant, Adriel dashes down the stairs. Something about that woman never hesitates to make his skin crawl, and he doesn't think it is only the engagement.
A short while later he catches up to Squadron Thirteen. Adriel takes his designated spot in their formation which just so happens to be beside Saeran.
"What did Her Majesty want?"
"Nothing new. The usual."
Saeran smiles brightly. "I'm glad that Her Majesty likes you. You and my baby sister will be a fine match!"
More than anything, the Ground Badger wants to scream at him. The only person on planet Dabnod who doesn't know that Damiana is the future Queen, besides the girl herself, is Saeran. According to the Ground Badger Clan elders, Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council planned it that way on purpose. They can't have the news slipping out to Damiana before the appropriate time. Thus, Ariel can't scream at him. The Death Queen is trying to recreate the Dabnodian Royal Family, and he can't scream that in his friend's face! What he can and should scream, however, is that being betrothed to an eleven-year-old is weird and downright creepy!
Thankfully, this is when civilians begin filing into the massive and empty rosestone square that is the city center. Adriel should feel thankful for the distraction, but then he notices a raised dais at the square's far end. Seasoned Knights from the Sky Serpent and Water Flower clans are guarding a group of men and women, all of them bound by chains. They don't appear to be from the inner provinces. They are adorned by animal skins, meaning that their province of origin must be a great distance from here. He lifts a prayer to the Fates. Hopefully, sixteen-year-old Dami and her human friend from Earth stay hidden. This is going to be a long night.
Large crowds are supposed to be loud. There is supposed to be boisterous chatter and excitement. Whether something good is happening or something awful is happening, massive crowds are never silent. At least this has been Roy's experience until today. There are hundreds, possibly thousands, gathered. There is no space for stretching his limbs. There is hardly enough space for breathing. Yet, it is quiet. Roy hasn't spoken a word. If Roy's life depended on it, he wouldn't be able to speak. He cannot believe what he is witnessing.
A man stands on a short, stone, stage. This is no ordinary man. He wears golden armor, has a jeweled sword, and is bedecked by a rustling emerald green cape. When the man speaks, he sounds completely and utterly vehement.
"Good evening, my fellow Dabnodians! I am Councilman Nine of the Sky Serpent Clan. Thank you all for being here. Your presence was requested, and you all arrived promptly and orderly. The Dabnodian Royal Council appreciates your cooperation." A long pause ensues as the councilman regards the crowd disdainfully. Roy feels like they are cattle rather than people. It's as if he anticipates one of them charging. At long last, he clears his throat and continues. "Bend your knee to her most highly esteemed Majesty, Queen Guayusa of Dabnod!"
Emerald eyes expand to the size of saucers. Roy is suddenly very thankful for the hooded cloak. The redhead covers his ginger locks as thoroughly as possible while every Dabnodian in the crowd has hair that is either dark purple, gray, or pure black. All besides Damiana. Damiana's ringlets are lime green. She throws up her hood as well, though this hardly conceals the stupefaction splayed across her face. It takes an eternal moment, but at long last, the girl bends her knee. She yanks on Roy's sleeve aggressively until he, too, is kneeling.
Emerging onto the stage, previously hidden behind a platoon of Royal Knights, is a woman. She is a tall, elegant, woman with slim, delicate, features. If Roy had to guess her age, he would say that she is in her middle forties. The dress she wears is what Bumblebee might call a Grecian-style dress. The fabric is thin, the silk flows, and the skirt lacks fullness. The dress is sleeveless with a high collar, as are most of the Dabnodian dresses that Roy has seen since passing through Sclarthon. Although, the dresses in Avarin are more colorful than in Sclarthon. Queen Guayusa is no exception. The bright yellow garment draws every eye in the throng in her direction, as does the glistening jewelry.
What truly captures the human's attention, however, is the Queen's face. It is a familiar face. Roy drinks in every solitary feature. A button nose. Full lips. High cheekbones. Round eyes. Brows that furrow sharply and lips that pucker, signifying that she is deep in thought. The most striking of Queen Guayusa's physical attributes, however, is her long, rose-red, curled ringlets. As for the Queen's irises, they are a compelling shade of pale pink.
The archer's breath hitches in his throat. He turns to face Damiana, dumbstruck. Tenna catches the archer's gaze. They exchange a shared look of perplexity, glance in awe at Queen Guayusa, and then back at Damiana in stupefied synchronization.
The would-be Queen, who had been gaping at the ruler of planet Dabnod, finally notices. "What?"
"Oh! It's nothing!"
"Nothing at all!"
A few seconds is all it takes for the redhead and the mountaineer to temporarily forget about the uncanny observation that they just made. Queen Guayusa addresses the mass. Her voice is gentle in a way that gives Roy chills. Her amiable tone conceals what could easily be considered rage. On impulse, he scans the area for the nearest exit only to discover that there isn't one. They are being closed in by Royal Knights. Thankfully, one of those Knights is Adriel. He wears a blank expression the same as his companions, though Roy is still happy to see him. There might be an escape, if need be.
"My fellow Dabnodians, today is a day of justice. Dabnod has entered an era of discord and chaos, not only from outside but from within. During this time of war, Dabnodians must exhibit courage. We must exhibit patriotism and comradery. This is what unites us as a people against the murderous Tamaraneans. If we are divided amongst ourselves, we will never be strong enough to stand against any outside threat. Division is our enemy.
"Those who I am about to present to you are agents of division. They call the leader of their group a 'Prophet of the Fates'. This so-called 'prophet' has been traveling freely across the continent preaching doom and destruction for decades. The Fates do not wish destruction upon the Dabnodian people, and the Fates do not choose prophets. Only the Ruling Monarch of Dabnod hears directly from the Fates. Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe spread lies. Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe blaspheme the Fates. Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe blaspheme their Queen." With a swish of her dress, Queen Guayusa turns abruptly. "Bring them to me, but put Prophet Veng front and center."
Roy hadn't previously noticed, likely due to the placement of the Royal Knights, but the entirety of the Fire Lily Tribe stands toward the back of the stage. Most of them are sobbing. The only person who isn't sobbing is Prophet Veng. Too many questions to count flood Roy's mind. How did they get caught? They were heading in the opposite direction of Avarin! Did they change their course? Did the Fates tell Prophet Veng to come here? How did this happen?!
It is Tenna's sharp gasp that forces Roy out of his thoughts. A net is thrown over the men and women of the tribe while Prophet Veng is tied to a tall wooden post.
"What you're doing won't change a thing, your Majesty. Every vision the Fates have granted me will happen. Dabnod will be destroyed in this war you've caused, and the child will rise against you."
"Blasphemy! How dare you speak this way to your Queen?"
Prophet Veng's eyes narrow. They do not have the fear of a man about to die, but rather, the fire of a man with nothing to lose. "I'm only revealing to you what the Fates have told me."
"Give him space, men! I need a clear shot!" The Queen's hair is a deep shade of midnight blue as she shoos the Royal Knights away with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"Kill me, your Majesty. This must be what the Fates have willed, but know this. If one prophet is destroyed, then the Fates will choose another."
Curled ringlets turn to flames, and irises shine bright amber. Roy has always thought of Damiana as being immensely powerful. Right now, Queen Guayusa makes the girl's strongest feats with her fire appear no greater than the feats of a caveman wielding a match. A single, outstretched, forefinger is all it takes for a wall of flames blacker than obsidian to consume Prophet Veng. It happens so quickly that he doesn't have time to scream. The rest of the Fire Lily Tribe has time, though. When the obsidian inferno consumes them as well, they are shrieking. The crowd starts to panic and attempts to flee, but not before rock-using Knights summon towering, thirty-foot, walls of stone. The city center is inescapable.
"Enough! The City of Avarin has been faithful. You have nothing to fear. Our assembly is not yet over." The only thing that stops frightened murmuring is a zap of bright, blue, lightning to the sky. Everyone turns toward the stage silently with straight posture. Thankfully, the Queen doesn't use her lightning to harm anyone. "Thank you for your attention. Your attention is something that the person I'm calling to the front deserves. He is the most loyal and the most courageous of all the squires in his year and certainly in his squadron. Saeran of the Fire Phoenix Clan, please join me."
Damiana's hair transforms to lime green once again as the crowd separates for her brother. His golden ponytail gleams as brightly as his grin. Once at the foot of the stone dais, the water user kneels.
"Saeran, when you learned of the route that Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe were taking when departing from Sclarthon, you didn't keep silent. You wrote me a message, marked it as urgent, and had it sent to me. This is what a Royal Knight of Dabnod does - squelches division wherever it arises. I sincerely hope your examinations go well. If you rank up from Squire to Knight, I would like you as a part of my personal guard."
"Thank you, your Majesty. I am honored."
Queen Guayusa bends over to attach a medallion to the front of his breastplate. When he rises, the Royal Knights in the crowd cheer loudly.
"You are now marked with the Medal of Trust. May you bring many years of loyal service to planet Dabnod and your Queen."
She feels numb. Roy grabbing her by the arm and rushing her away the instant they're allowed to disperse feels like a dream. Dashing down streets packed with people and forcing their way through the horde is something that she barely comprehends. She feels like she is wading through jello. Damiana is guided back to her room, Roy steering her by the shoulders. Shaking her. Whispering in her ear. Shouting in her face. Nothing works. Damiana is in a dream. She must be.
"We're almost back to our room, Dami. You can lie down. Take a nap. It might help."
No, it won't. Nothing will ever help. Did she really just see that? There is no way that she just saw that. She is going to wake up in her room in Titans Tower any minute. The violet grasses that she has seen for the past three months are just painted on her bedroom walls. Prophet Veng isn't dead. That innocent tribe of wanderers from Province Ten can't possibly be dead. Queen Guayusa wouldn't kill families with children and an old man. Her Queen wouldn't do that. Saeran wouldn't report an old man to Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council for disloyalty to the monarchy. Saeran was her loving, kind, older brother.
Tenna unlocks their room. Roy carries her inside over his shoulder and lays her down on their shared bed. He brushes hair away from her face. Damiana turns over so that she is facing away from him.
"You haven't eaten since noon. Would you like something to eat, Damiana?"
She doesn't answer because she barely hears him. The only thing the would-be Queen sees and hears are flashes of memories. During one of her visits to the Fire Phoenix compound, the Clan Elders congratulated her after perfecting one particularly difficult Master's Level technique. This was only a scant week before Dabnod's destruction.
"That was phenomenal! We need to tell Her Majesty straight away! Tell Her Majesty that Lady Damiana may be ready to learn Phoenix Level techniques!"
"Eternal Night would be a good move to start with!"
Eternal Night. The black fire that is only used by the most skilled fire users in the Noble Clans of the highest status. This is the only fire that can harm fire users. Damiana had been ecstatic. Now, all Damiana can see when she thinks of that conversation is Prophet Veng's frail, elderly body disintegrating. All she hears are the screams of the Fire Lily Tribe. She loved learning new techniques for her fire. Silly girl. Never did the would-be Queen once imagine what Eternal Night could be used for. She just wanted to know how to make black fire.
As for Queen Guayusa, she'd always had such an excited glint in her eyes when Damiana's skills improved. That same glint was in her Queen's eyes minutes ago when she'd slaughtered Prophet Veng and when she'd given Saeran his medal. Pride and affection weren't the reasons for her Queen's joy. Murder was the reason. Saeran would always come back from his missions with gifts for her. Queen Guayusa would always come back with stories and books. Never did the child ever guess what they had been up to during their excursions outside of the Capital City.
Meanwhile, Roy rubs Damiana's back in soft circles. Caen can be heard crying. His mother does her best to console him. Of course, there is no consoling him. The poor little boy is now scarred for life just as Damiana of the Fire Phoenix Clan is. She isn't sure what exactly triggers it, but all of a sudden, loud, woeful, sobbing wracks her body. Nobody moves and nobody speaks. The archer lays down beside her and pulls her close. They stay like that for hours.
The lilac moon shines inside through the kitchen's single window. Adriel feels fortunate that the Grass Phoenix Inn's kitchen is easy to locate. He nibbles on a crust of bread and sips a cup of tea. The Ground Badger doesn't think that he will ever sleep again. He is tired - so very tired. Province Five. The Fire Lily Tribe and their Prophet. Soon to be, their planet. Adriel wishes desperately that everything would stop burning. He wants the fire to stop. He wants the ashes to go away. Instead, he now has another nightmare to add to his repertoire of nightmares. If Adriel was a weaker man, he would take his phoenix to Province Four, buy a mug of ale, and hire one of those ugly ladies. Anything to make the images of burning places and burning people leave his mind.
It's strange, the dream that woke him up. Burning. The entire planet burned up in one big, fiery, explosion. He saw it from the window of what must have been a space pod. During another part of the dream, he was standing next to the Royal Palace fighting Tamaranean soldiers when the ground started shaking violently. The Tamaraneans retreated and the sky turned to fire. It was such a strange dream - probably from the tale sixteen-year-old Dami told him of Dabnod's coming annihilation. It's still strange, though. The dream felt real. Incredibly real. So real that he woke up from his slumber. It's so frustrating that the dream woke him. It took hours for him to fall asleep. That poor old prophet, burning to death.
Adriel shakes his head skeptically at himself. As real as it felt, that dream wasn't a vision of a real event. It couldn't have been. That is impossible…
"Hey, what are you doing awake? You couldn't possibly be having more nightmares."
Adriel jolts. Saeran enters the kitchen and sits at the table beside him. He sighs internally. Adriel wishes that the water user would take a hike and get lost somewhere.
"More nightmares after watching an entire tribe of people burn to death? No. Of course not."
Saeran chortles light-heartedly. "You're not really upset over a crazy old man and country folk from Province Ten?"
"You mean fellow Dabnodians? Yes. I'm pretty upset."
"They were crazy. These people were spreading lies, blaspheming the Fates, and blaspheming our Queen. I'm sorry, Adriel. They needed to die. I heard them talking amongst themselves back in Sclarthon, so I reported them to the Royal Council. You're welcome."
The Ground Badger's long, midnight blue, ponytail swishes behind him as he stomps toward the kitchen's exit. "Has it ever occurred to you that there really could be prophets? It has only been within these past two decades that anyone has seen an issue with prophets."
"You sound just as crazy as the old man!" Saeran exclaims through laughter. "Prophets of the Fates do not exist."
A/N: Motherhood keeps me busy at home, and calls might pick up again with fall coming, so I'm not sure when I will be able to write another chapter. Just know that another chapter is coming sooner or later. Damiana and Roy will likely be off of Dabnod in another 2-3 chapters. What are your thoughts so far? I would love to hear it - what you enjoyed about the chapter as well as constructive criticism.
Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! :)
Forever and always,
~OCQ