Drageons

Shadows flickered across concrete blocks. Whispers of moonlight touched black bars. Mice ran between light and dark as chains rattled somewhere nearby. Clouds raced across the night as a form stood up and looked through the barred window of her prison.

"They're going to kill us, aren't they?" A child in rags sat nearby.

"Maybe." The old woman smiled as the full moon met her gaze. "Maybe not."

"Come tomorrow, we shall know." The child started to cry.

"That we will, and please do not cry, child. There is no need to cry."

"How can you say that when we might be hanged on the deathman's noose?"

"Because I do not fear the deathman." The old woman's eyes flashed a brilliant green. "He should fear me." The child saw the glint of green in her eyes.

"You're one of them, aren't you? One of the Drageons?" The old woman nodded. "Then, use your power to free us! Get us out of here!"

"Hush, child. I am too old for fight." Fear and sadness shined in the child's eyes. "I am however not too old to tell you my story."

"And what good will your story do? Will it help us escape our deaths? Will it help end the war?" The old woman finally moved away from the small, concrete window. "I don't need your story." The child slumped his head against his raised knees.

"Well, I will tell it anyway to spend the last hours of this night." The old woman sat close to the child. "Listen, child. Maybe you will find hope within my words, within the Drageons." Hope glimmered in the child's eyes.

"Tell me then," he whispered.

"Once upon a time, there was a princess, who fell deathly ill. All the healers and witches even could not heal her. Nobody knew where the sickness had come from, and nobody knew its cure. She was to die at age sixteen when this stranger appeared in the king's court.

"This stranger never gave his name. He merely just said that the blood of the silver dragon would heal her, and only he could deliver its blood to the princess. The king granted his request, but he did not believe him. Nobody ever heard of a silver dragon. Sure, we had many dragons at that time but never a silver one, and a week later, this stranger returned with its blood. He delivered it to the princess, and she became instantly cured.

"Fearful, the king asked this man what he wanted in return. His request was to marry the princess on her eighteenth birthday, but the king wanted to know if this man was royalty. He wanted his daughter to marry a prince or somebody in a royal court, but this stranger would not give up his identity. He said it was his price, her hand in marriage, but the king refused. So, this stranger just left and was never to be seen in the king's court again.

"A month before the princess's eighteenth birthday when she would wed a prince from a far off country, she became pregnant. She insisted that she was with no man, but she was with child. Her stomach grew so big that many wondered if she would be carrying twins, and then the day came for her to deliver. And she delivered six children, three girls and three boys, and the poor princess died in her sleep shortly afterward.

"The king was outraged, cursing the stranger for cursing his child. He felt that it was his doing, but no matter how many men he sent out to find this stranger, nobody could find him. He was like a ghost, and what was the king supposed to do with all these children? Surely, his wife and him could raise a few but not all six.

"The children were divided. One boy and one girl stayed with the king and queen. One knight took a boy while another knight took a girl. The other two were sent off into the village to live among the peasants. Their existence was kept secret, so not too many knew that they were the offspring of royalty.

"Eighteen years passed. The land changed. The king had died. The queen was on the deathman's bed. The prince and princess were feuding over who would rule the land. It was said that one of them could sprout the wings of a dragon from his back and soar through the night. It was also said that the princess had emerald eyes, where she could look into the future.

"As their feuding continued, the knights were divided between the siblings. Two knights were at odds with the other. One was a young man, who it was said that he could shoot fire from his mouth. The other was a young girl, whose skin would turn gray and be as tough as the skin of a dragon. They were both unbeatable except when they faced each other.

"In the village, the peasants worried over who would rule the land. The prince would surely go to war with his neighboring countries. However, the princess would surely keep the peace that has long saved them from the spoils of war.

"One young peasant girl was ready to fight to save her family, her people. She showed no fear. It was said that she could change her hands into the claws of a dragon and slice through anything including metal.

"One young peasant boy was also ready to fight for his family, his people. He also showed no fear. It was said that he could make dragons appear from anywhere, and they would do his bidding.

"These six children were the first Drageons, and they would all live for a hundred years."

"What about their children?" The child looked at her.

"Their children... If they had any, they would be just like them..." She closed her eyes as if she were falling asleep.

"How old are you?"

"98 years." She looked at the child and smiled. "What's your name, child?"

"Barren."

"Barren. What did you do to be put in a place like this?"

"I stole food. I was hungry, and the knights captured me. No trial. Just sentenced to death. Can't you see that?"

"I only see ahead not before." She patted his head. "What about your family? Your siblings?"

"I have no family. They're gone, and I do what I have to do to survive." He gazed up at the dark ceiling. "Where is your family? Your siblings?"

"Around the world, I'm sure. Some are hiding, and the others are at war." Her eyes darkened. "The prince took control. His heart was dark, and his thirst was for power. He only kept his sister, the princess alive to know her visions, and he held a small inner circle that had eyes everywhere. His loyal companion was the knight that could breathe fire, but the rebellion was fueled by his opposition, the knight that could turn her skin into dragon armor. And it was said that she had two peasant children with her with similar abilities to help fight the prince."

"Did they fail?"

"In the beginning, but their battles continued to be waged over the next hundred years, dividing the land. The knight that could breathe fire, Herald fell in love with the princess, but she did not love him. But he had her regardless, and they had a son, Feiron. And he killed the prince and overtook the land, trying to end the rebellion, and he lied about wanting peace. He really wanted to own the world, and the rebellion knew the lust that thrived in his heart. The two peasant children fell in love and had triplets. Each child was gifted with different abilities, and they took up the fight after their parents were gone. But rumor had it that the knight with dragon armor was still alive, but hardly did anyone see her. She was like a ghost chasing after the fight, and other countries feared that the fight would be lost. And Feiron would reign supreme."

"But he still rules, so did he win?" Fear crept into his voice. "Is all hope lost?"

"Hope is never lost, child." Her eyes held his. "Hope lies with you."

"Me? We're going to die tomorrow."

"Nothing is ever that simple."

"Meaning what? Don't be so cryptic." She fell silent. "I'm only thirteen years. How could hope lie with me?"

"Because you're like me." Moonlight shined in her eyes. "You're different. You have a heart of silver."

"So? What does that mean?"

"It means, child that you are like the stranger that first came here."

Something crashed into the wall. Bricks fell around them. Thunderous wings swooped through the air. Razor sharp claws reached into darkness, finding them. Moonlit skies chased two shadows holding on for dear life as jagged earth hovered below, and a scream for freedom broke the silence.

Barren fell to the ground, followed by the old woman. A black dragon hovered above them, and a slender figure slid from its neck and fell down onto the land. Black hair covered bare shoulders, and tattoos stretched across the arms. And yellow eyes flashed in the darkness, holding his gaze, and his breath slipped away. But the old woman held him steady.

"Really, Rian. Was that necessary?"

"Just having fun, Lorna. I see that you found him." The child was limp in her arms. "He's not ready for the fight."

"He has to be." She now carried him in her arms. "All hope lies with him."

"Well, you knew where to find him, so I'll trust your words." Her dragon waited a short distance away. "The rebellion is holding strong with your absence, but we missed you."

"Did you heed my instructions?" Rian walked away. "Did you?"

"No." Her yellow eyes flashed against her gaze of green. "I could not kill him."

"He will betray us."

"He is my brother, and Rogue would never do what you said."

"How many times have I been right?" She hurried alongside Rian. "If I say that he will betray us, he will, and all hope could be lost with him."

"Look, you told me when and how. If that time comes, I will do what is necessary, but maybe we can change the future. If not, this boy will have to, or we lost. And all these centuries of bloodshed were for nothing, but what if you are wrong? And what if he cannot find him?"

"He will. I've seen it."

"Then, let's not waste another moment. Time is short, and our enemies draw close."

"Then, let's not waste another moment."

Firelight engulfed the darkness. Tendrils of flame touched his skin. Warmth left him in comfort, but sleep slipped away. And eyes opened to a million fires stretched across a dark cave, and whispers of strangers filled his ears. But strength pushed away his fear, and he searched for her, the old woman that first found him. But she was nowhere to be seen.

"She's resting." Rian carried a bowl of water over to him. "Here. Drink this, Barren." She placed the bowl in his hands. "You'll feel better."

"How do you know my name?"

"Lorna told me." She sat against a wall beside him. "She told me many things."

"Like what?" He sipped the water. "That hope lies with me?"

"Yes." Firelight glistened in her yellow eyes. "You are different."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that you are not like the rest of us." His eyes fell around those nearby. "You can tell the Drageons from the regular. We have different eyes, tattoos, or other markings."

"If you're all Drageons, why can't you win the war?"

"Because, Barren, we fight each other, and that makes things difficult, complicated. But you're our hope." He dropped the empty bowl to the ground. "Don't you think so?"

"No." He wiped his mouth with his hand. "I heard my mother died in childbirth, and my father left me to an orphanage. And I was bullied and tormented until I ran away, and there is nothing different about me. Otherwise, I would never have struggled to survive." She touched his hand. "A heart of silver. What the hell does that mean?" He pulled his hand away. "Maybe I'm cold-blooded. Maybe I don't care about you or this war. I just want to survive." He stormed away.

"Leave him be." Lorna stopped Rian from pursuing him. "He has to work this out on his own."

"We don't have time for his conflict. Rogue will be back soon, and then we will have to make a move."

"You will." Lorna sat by the fire. "Not I." Rian crouched beside her. "I trust you to lead the rebellion."

"We need you."

"We need him." Her green eyes narrowed. "His path leads away from here, but we will meet up again." She turned toward Rian. "He has to discover himself."

"And how will he do that?"

"Through the trials that I will put before him."

"And if he does not survive?"

"Then, neither will I." She pushed a lock of hair away from Rian's face. "All this bloodshed will not be for nothing. Our loved ones will be avenged. One way or another." She rose to her feet. "Do not despair."

"Never." Rian took her by hand. "Be careful, mother." She hugged her. "We will try to hold strong." She watched her walk away. "What about Rogue?"

"I trust his fate to you." A small smile touched Lorna's lips. "You decide." She left the cave.

The night was cold now. The fires from the cave barely penetrated the darkness. Bitter winds tossed and turned across troubled lands, and ominous clouds stole across the moon. Shadowed footsteps found the boy sitting alone, struggling with a million thoughts, and a pale hand reached for him.

"Sorry. Did not mean to disturb." The shadowed man stepped back. "Wanted to see if you were alright." His eyes were dark, deadly. "Are you?"

"I didn't see you in the cave." The man did not respond. "I'm alright. Just confused."

"Confusion is good. It will lead you to hope."

"You sound like the old woman."

"Her." Something bitter echoed in his voice. "Maybe I do." He tried to cover his contempt for her, but the boy caught it. "She's not always right. She may be wrong about you."

"She saved my life." Barren stood up and faced the shadowed man. "I owe her."

"She may ask too much of you." His pale hands reached for him. "Trust nothing but what I say. If you fail, they all die, but you may not win." The old woman quickly approached them. "The death man will soon find her and you."

"You're wrong." Barren turned toward the old woman. "What's wrong?"

"Who were you just talking to?"

"This man." He gestured toward the empty air beside him. "He was just here a moment ago. I was just talking to him."

"A whisperer."

"A what?"

"There a few rare Drageons, who have the power of invading the mind, and there was a recent rumor that the prince found one. He is a dangerous man. Do not heed his words of advice."

"Funny. He said the same thing about you." Barren shook his head. "This is too much for me. I'm just a kid."

"You're more than that, but right now, you're not safe out here. And our enemies now know about you."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning that they will be coming for you. Soon." She took him by hand. "Come. You're safe in numbers, but tomorrow early, we venture out alone."

"To where?" He followed her back to the cave. "Where are we going?"

"To find the original Drageon."

"But that was hundreds of years ago. How could he still be alive?" Her eyes flashed a dark green. "I'm sorry. I don't mistrust you. I owe you my life, but how could he still be alive?"

"Because I've seen him. I know where he lives, and we must go to him. Alone. Otherwise, he won't speak to us, and we must be fast about it because our enemies now know what we seek. And this could be the end of them."

"I understand." He moved further into the cave with her by his side. "Will I have to fight him?"

"No. He won't be the one that you must destroy." Silence fell around her. "Time for sleep." She gestured toward an empty spot near the fire. "We need to gain strength, be prepared. Anything can happen, and we must be ready." She sat down next to him. "Now, close your eyes. Tomorrow will be the first day of your new life."