I felt a hand cover my mouth cutting off my breath. My eyes open to see Eion standing over me. His eyes an evil glowing red. I struggle against him trying to get him off of me. He smiles wickedly down at me pulling out a knife, I managed to grap a rock and slam it against his head knocking him off me. I jump up grapping my sword.
"Bowen Father wake up," I shouted at them but there was no anwser.
"Bowen wake up," I shouted turning to where he was sleeping by the fire, "Bowen wake up I need you!"
I yelled to him running to his side throwing back his blanket I see blood covering his body and his throat slit with blood pooling out of it. I jump back horroified. I hear Eion laughing right behind me. I swing my sword around at him but he dissapeered.
"Nice try sister," his voice sounds like it is coming from all around me. I hold my sword out in front of me turning around each time I hear his voice.
"Father Abiageal," I yell out trying to find them, "Father Abiageal!"
"No us Catherine," I hear him chuckle, "You can't protect them."
"Show yourself you bloody coward," I shouted back.
"Is that any way to talk to your brother or your king?"
"I don't have a brother and I serve no king!"
"Well then," I heard him right behind me. I spun around ready to stab him but my sword vanished out of my hands. He stepped closer to me, "Then join that fool Bowen in Hell!"
He then pushed me and I started to fall into a black abyss. I started screaming as I fell into the darkness that was swallowing me up till I couldn't see anything but an inky black.
"Ava"
"Ava wake up"
I shot up from my sleep covered in sweat. I was gasping for air as I looked around our camp. It was sun rise and Bowen was cooking a qual on the fire.
"Ava are you okay," Abiageal asked me as I started to calm down.
Taking a deep breath I answered her back, "Yes I'm fine it was just a bad dream nothing to worry about little sister."
"Okay want some breakfast," she asked holding a birds leg out to me.
"Sure thanks," I said taking the leg and biting into it.
"Bowen got it for us," she smiled at me, "Dads getting his own meat."
I nodded at her and continued to eat. Half way through my meal father came back to the camp with a full belly. after Bowen and I finished our breakfasts we started talking about our next plan of action.
"So where are we going now," I asked him throwing the leg bone into the fire.
"There is a village not to far from here," he said toshing his own bones into the fire, "About a day or so ride."
"How much do you know about it," I asked.
"And how much money do you think we can get," Abiageal said a little too excited.
Bowen laughed at my sisters enthusiasm, "We will have to see young one."
Before we left father, Abiageal, and I did a round of sparing. Abiageal will her ax, and I with my sword against father. Bowen sat on the side lines watching us. It would go Abiageal and I vs father than the two of us against each other than one on one with father. Father pinned us in the first fight in about five minutes, the next fight was Abiageal against me which after about six was drawn to a tie between the two of us. Next was Abiageal against father, time two minutes with a pin by father, than me with a time of only three minutes. Father won by pinning me on my stomach. Bowen watched us fight and would chuckle every time my sister and I came close to beating the other only to start the fight all over again which made the both of us tired. After a twenty minute rest we all packed up the camp and started heading towards our next payday.
It took us mostly all day to reach the village Bowen had in mind. It turns out that it was the same village that had rebelled against the king. I was not too happy about that at all. I may have a little trust for Bowen now but I did not want any more of my past to come back to me. We went back to our cave to stay the night at which Abiageal and i were happy to do. We stayed the night in the cave my sister and i curled up close to father with his arm curled around us. It was a rather cold night in the cave though Abiageal and I were used to it and had fathers warmth I could hear Bowen shiver as he tried to stay warm five feet away from us. I felt bad for him so I nugged fathers head waking him up pointing at Bowen shivering. Father saw how cold he was, he smiled at me then picked up Bowen laying him against his belly draping his wing over him giving the knight more warmth.
When morning came Abiageal and I did our morning routine before Bowen woke up. I caught the three of us fish for breakfast while father went hunting for his own meal. By late morning every one had eaten and Bowen was getting ready to leave. Though I had made the decision to stay at the cave this time.
"How come," Bowen asked me.
"Mainly two reasons," I told him though there were many more that I didn't want to speak out loud, "One, Abiageal and I need to clean our clothes and two we need a bath."
"What no I don't," Abiageal said in protest.
"Yes you do," I told her.
"Listen to your sister Abiageal, " my father said nugging her back, "Bowen and I will do fine with out you and your sister. We will meet you back her whne we are done my children."
"Alright," Bowen said mounting his horse.
"And when you get back knight it will be your turn to wash," Abiageal yelled as father and Bowen left. I chuckled at her remark knowing all do well that she didn't like missing any chance of an adventure, even when she was younger she alsways wanted to go on hunts with father and I though she was far to young too hunt with us she always wanted to explore.
While I washed our clothes, Abiageal sat behind me polishing and sharpening our weapons. When our clothes were done and our weapons sharpened we got ready to bath in the river. Getting undressed we stepped into the water bare skinned with a few herbal leafs in hand for scrubbing. As we bathed we both sang the songs father would sing to us till we heard his wings flapping over head of us then land on the rocky shore.
"Back so soon father," Abiageal said walking to were he stood on the shore. I then noticed that there was a women in his hand.
"Father who is she," I asked stepping onto the shore.
"A poor girl from the village," my father said. She had firey red curly hair, pale skin that was smerred in dirt and what I hope was mud. She wore a green dress that was also covered in dirt and what again I hoped was mud.
"Is she alive," Abiageal asked stepping closer to her as father laid her on the ground gently, "Is she going to be our sister?"
Father chuckled at her last remark, "I don't think so my child and she is only unconsions."
Leaning over her I got a closer look at her as she started to wake up.
"Hello," I said as she fully woke up, "Welcome back to the land of the living."
"Hi," Abiageal said leaning over her. The girl screamed as she shot up leaning against a boulder.
"Woah miss you're okay," I said slowly stepping towards her, "You are among friends."
"You have nothing to fear," father told her, "I won't harm you."
"Who are you," she asked my sister and I, "And why are you naked?"
"We're in the middle of bath," Abiageal said, "Which it seems like you could us one as well."
"Would you like to join us," I asked offering her my hand, "I have some great herbs that will make your skin feel so soft and I can get your dress cleaned up as well."
She looked up from me to father fear still covered her face. I could see she was scared of what would happen to her.
"Hey my name is Ava," I said smiling at her, "This is my younger sister Abiageal and this is our father."
"You may call me Draco," father said bowing his head to her.
"You're his daughters," she asked still scared.
"Yep," Abiageal said hugging fathers leg.
"So are you all going to eat me," she asked standing up pulling a knife from her belt.
"Why would we do that," Abiageal asked.
"Here you seem scared how about we give you a bath to help you relax," I said stepping closer to her, "And while we are drying off father can sing to us. If that is okay with you father?"
"Of course Ava," father smiled at us laying down on the shore.
"Come on Ava has a really great herbal scrub to get dirt off your skin," Abiageal said running back into the water, " It feels really great and it makes your cloths feel soft too."
"Here," I offered her my hand again, "Lets get you cleaned up okay."
She slowly put her knife away back into its sheath then took my hand I lead her to the waters edge then helped her undress. Though she was nervous at first I reasured her that nothing would happen to her. When she was undressed I lead her into the water. While I helped her get cleaned up Abiageal finished her bath and was cleaning our guests dress.
"So what's your name," I asked as I got the last of the pit of dirt off her face.
"My name is Kara," she told me.
"Nice to meet you Kara,"I smiled at her as I walked around her to her back. As I srubbed her back father blew a warm breath on her dress helping it dry a little faster. When we were done with our bath we dried off with a fur pelt Abiageal brought us, then we got dressed. Our cloths were still damp but would soon dry in the afternoon sun. Father sang to us as our hair and cloths dried off in the sun. Kara sat on a boulder while Abiageal and I laid on the shore listening to father sing.
"You have a beautiful voice," Kara said when father finished his song.
"Thank you, " he said back, "We dragons love to sing when we are happy."
"Then you're not like a dragon at all," she said.
"Well, how many dragons do you know," he asked her.
"Well, you're the first."
"You should never listen to minstrel's fancies a dragon would never hurt a soul unless he tried you hurt him first."
"Or his children," I said standing up and climbing onto Kara's rock, "It was my father who saved my sister and I and raised as his owe children."
"Really then why were you in my village," Kara asked crossing her arms.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath. I had forgotten about the village as well as did father.
"Yes the village," Bowen said riding up to us, " You remember the village."
"Hi Bowen," Abiageal said sitting up.
Kara seeing Bowen quickly grabbed her knife jumping off her rock to stand in front of Abiageal, "Leave him alone, you bully! Run Draco and your children I'll hold him off. Pick on someone your own size."
Father made some motions with his hand at Bowen but I just faced palmed. Abiageal looked at Bowen shrugging her shoulders.
"Where were you," Bowen asked.
"Her fault," Abiageal said pointing at me. I through a pebble at the back of her head in respounce which was returned by her jumping onto the rock pinning me.
"Sorry Bowen," father said as Abiageal and I rolled closer to the edge of the boulder, " I have been distracted."
He then picked up my sister and I setting us on the ground as we continued to wrestle around in the dirt.
"Bowen meet Kara."
"You should have eaten her," Bowen said pulling Abiageal and I apart.
"Oh don't get angry at me Bowen."
"Why not you left me high and dry back there," Bowen said leaning down at the waters edge rinsing off his face, " I was worried to death."
"You were worried," I asked dusting myself off.
"About me," father asked.
"Yes about you," Bowen said, "I had the whacker all set up."
I saw fathers' face grow scarred as he heard something. He quickly grapped Abiageal and I than ran into the cave. He set us at a down on a ledge as he came into the cave.
"Be careful he's coming," he yelled out to Bowen.
"Who is coming," I asked.
"Eion," father said nudging Abiageal and I further back into the cave, "Go get your armor on. Ava be ready for anything."
"Yes father," I said running to wear my armor laid on the ground. I quickly got dressed and put on my mask, than ran to the front of the cave to a spot I could see outside but still be hidden by the fall. I saw Eion, Brok and three other men. All of them on horse back. Eions was a pure white horse with white everything even Eion wore all white. I wanted to throw up at the sight of it. He was talking to bowen though I couldn't make out all the words but I did hear 'Girl I lost' and 'Not her decision I'm afraid'. It didn't take a ginues to know what my brother meant. My anger boiled as I though of what he must have done to Kara. Much like our father forcing my mother into marriage he would be just like him. I wanted to cut his very manhood off and feed it to wild dogs. I watched as he and Bowen started to sword fight. As they fought I saw Brok dismount his horse and pull out his sword ready to stab Bowen if he came to close to beating Eion. I saw this and ran out of the cave as quick as I could, and before he saw me I had my sword under his chin.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," I said, "If you even think about raising your sword I'll cut off your head."
As Bowen and Eion fought on I saw Eion was starting to back Bowen up to a rock in the middle of the river. As he moved I saw what he was going to do, I ran into the water as Eion stabbed Bowens shoulder. Bowen screamed out in pain. I pushed Eion aside as he removed the tip of his blade shielding bowen from him kepping my sword high.
"You taught me well knight," he laughed, " And who is this a new student."
I let out a deep growl from my throat at him as I staid my ground keeping my sword up. He only laughed at us sheathing his sword and turning away from us, walking away. Keeping my eyes on him I walked back to where Bowen was lying against the rock. As I got to his side Einon spun around throwing a knife at Bowen but I got in the way before it could hit him hitting my armor. Father then came roaring out of the falls landing in front of Bowen and I before Einon could through another blade at us. He then lifted the two scales covering his heart. I then felt my heart completely stop and I could hear fathers beating in my ears like I was right next to his chest. When Eion ran away in fear father lowered his scales and I felt my heart beat again.
"Who asked you to interfere," Bowen yelled as he stood up from the rock hand to his wound, " I had everything under control."
I looked at him then to where the knife had hit my armor. There wasn't even a scratch in the metal. I looked down at the water and found the knife. Picking it up I waved to the falls.
"Hey Abiageal I got you a new knife," I shouted to her. She then came out of the falls with my bag full of herbs.
"Sweet," she said as she got to where I was standing. I handed her the knife and she looked it over. Checking the balance, sharpens, and metal work.
"Not bad she said looking it over as she handed me my bag, "Balance is a little off because of the jewels but I can fix that."
"Good but first help me with Bowen," I said taking off my mask.
"I can handle this," he said turning back the the side of the river Kara was on though he tripped and nearly fell into the water. I placed my hand on his chest helping him up.
"I don't think so. Just lean on me till we get to the shore."
"I told you I can take care of myself," he winces in pain as he stands up straight. Before he can even take another step father picks him in his mouth by the back of his shirt and carries him to shore then gently sets him down on the ground.
"Now that you're on dry land let Ava take a look," Abiegael said walking up to him, "You may have been alone up till now but you are part of this family now so let your family take care of you."
Bowen didn't say a word and neither did the rest of us. After a moment I walked over to him and looked at his shoulder. It was a deep cut but not deep enough to cause major damage.
"Abiagel I need you to go get my sewing kit from inside," I told her. She nodded than ran back into the cave. I then looked over to Kara, "Kara would you mind helping me get Bowens shirt and armor off?"
Bowen opened his mouth to argue back at me but I stopped him before he could say a word, "If you don't want this to get worse than you will let Kara and I help you remove your shirt or I could cut it from your body while you're unconscious."
He stayed quite as Kara and I removed his shirt. When his shirt was off Abiageal came back with my sewing kit. While I cleaned Bowen's wound Abiageal cleaned his shirt and mended it. Kara helped me get the herbs I needed to finish cleaning the wound and help it heal. I then stitched his wound closed than placed a mix of herbs tied together then wrapping them against the wound.
"There you go," I said as I finished my work, "In about a week I'll remove the stitches for you but till then you'll have to go easy with that shoulder."
He nodded to me and I smiled back at him then went to the river to wash my hands of the blood. Later that day father went out hunting while my sister and I made out beds inside the cave for our guests. After father brought us all dinner we ate our fill though Kara seemed like she hadn't eaten a good meal in a while so I gave her more of my share of the meal. After we ate our fill we all went into the cave Abiageal showed Bowen and Kara where they would be sleeping on some fur blankets we had laid out for them. Father curled up on his spot in the cave and Abiageal and I curled up against him and we all went to sleep.
We stayed at the cave for about three days before I deemed Bowen well enough to travel. As we backed up our things I asked Kara if she would be going back to her village or did she want to travel with us.
"If you want to go back to your village I could give you a ride there," I told her as I checked my horses strapes.
"If it is okay with you I would like to go with you guys just to the next village."
"Okay," I said, "Bowen that all right with you?"
"Fine by me," he said checking his own horse.
"Good then she rides with you," I said helping Abiageal up onto my horse.
"What," they both said.
"Alright," Bowen said shrugging his shoulders.
"Why do I have to ride with him," Kara asked crossing her arms.
"Because my horse is only used to my sister and myself," I said mounting my horse. Kara sighed then walked over to Bowen. He helped her onto his horse and we started off towards the next village.