Cycle of Fire

2. Chapter 2: A Call to Action-2

The fourth member, Regeaus Crone, hailed from a family of royalty. He was respected throughout all of Zannondale for his kind heart and sensible nature. He was nearly as tall as Kedrick and even grew up near Kedrick’s home. His golden hair and trim physique attracted many young maidens within Ariculon, attention that he was quick to return with a dashing smile.

The fifth member, Tzula Falchion, was a stern yet fair woman. She wore her dark brown hair very short and would often say that long hair was a burden to her. She had earned the respect of the people through her support and provision of resources during Ariculon’s conception. She rivaled Azura in her haughtiness and valued the finer things. She made no apologies for her taste and dared anyone to test her with an empty gaze of bored judgment.

The sixth member, Aulrin, Maxim’s former aide, was offered the final seat on the council. Aulrin gladly obliged and joined the council to help guide Ariculon and serve as a bridge between the races of Zannondale. Gains, the seventh member, and leader, served as the deciding factor in times of hotly debated topics and decisions. He and the council talked amongst themselves while Cain and Azura waited patiently for an audience. The throne doors opened and General Sauvage swaggered into the room with a smile. Hilde was a woman of thirty, burning with young ferocity and vivaciousness, yet her playful quirks did not go unnoticed. Despite her stern training regimen, Hilde could be a jokester and often reveled at the notion of a night in the local pub. Her medium length, shaggy, reddish, brown hair was a trademark among her soldiers. They would often call her the scarlet siren because of her hair’s hue and her charming good looks.

“Ah, good morning, Hilde. Welcome,” Gains greeted.

Hilde took her place next to Cain resting her hands behind her back. She leaned a little, still tipsy from a wild night out. Azura glanced toward the opened doors and locked eyes with Colin in the hallway. His eyes widened when he saw her wrathful gaze and he closed the doors.

“So tell me. How bad is it?” Hilde asked.

“We have recently received word that the city of Hinnoc had been destroyed,” Gains began.

General Cain gritted his teeth, balling his fist to contain his simmering rage. “I had heard rumors. But to think they were actually…” he murmured.

“Who did this? Were there any survivors?” Azura questioned.

“Yes, there were survivors,” Kedrick began. “Two of the survivors rode here on horseback to inform us of Hinnoc’s destruction. But what is most troubling is what they told us. They spoke of a dragon. We believe it was Orthenius.”

Azura gasped. memories of Mar’s destruction flooded back to her. Her heart began to pound as her grip tightened around her sabre’s hilt.

“Orthenius? One of the dragons that destroyed Mar?” Belmont questioned.

“Yes. The survivors spoke of a dragon with the ability to expel bolts of lightning. The description appears to match Orthenius,” Neila replied.

“Where is he now?” Cain asked.

“We don’t know. He’s gone into hiding,” Tzula answered.

“Why has he chosen now of all times to attack?” Hilde asked.

“We assume that he has something planned but we aren’t sure what,” Nina answered.

“Is there anything you do know?” Cain replied with a smarmy scowl.

“I don’t appreciate your tone, General,” Tzula said, sitting forward with a scowl equally cantankerous. “We know what we know. We can’t predict the future.”

“My apologies, councilwoman,” Cain replied.

Aulrin turned toward Tzula smiling. “Actually, I know of a young lady that can do just that,” he said.

“Are you referring to the young Droragorian woman? Maya, was it?” Regeaus interjected.

“Yes. She has had visions of rather catastrophic events in the past. Perhaps she knows something that could help us locate our destructive culprit,” Aulrin suggested.

Cain clenched his fist tighter, struggling to suppress his anger.

“We could enlist the help of Maya and the rest of her Droragorian friends,” Neila said. “I believe it will be good for the people to see that not all Droragorian are as radical as Orthenius. This could prove very fortunate for race relations if this is successful,” she suggested.

“I agree. We could use their help. Besides, they know Orthenius better than any of us do,” Gains supported.

“Wait!” Cain belted. “I refuse to work with potentially dangerous creatures. We can handle this matter ourselves. We don’t need help from…from…those beasts,” he objected.

“They are not beasts, General. They are people just like you and I,” Aulrin emphatically defended.

Azura and Hilde both glanced toward Cain.

“General Cain, I understand you are not the most accepting of their race. However, it is in the best interest of the people and our city to create bonds between the races,” Nina reasoned. “We will not tolerate your racist tendencies, General. Despite what they have done in the past, they deserve a chance for peace. Just as we do,” she argued.

Cain glared back at Nina. It wasn’t the first time he had been reprimanded for such thinking. “Forgive me, councilwoman. My outburst was inappropriate and it will not happen again,” he reconciled.

Nina nodded and turned to Gains.

“All in favor of enlisting the help of the Droragorian raise a hand,” Gains announced.

The council responded to Gains’ request with a unanimous raise. Cain’s eyes fell to the emblem of the phoenix beneath his feet. His thoughts began to drift and memories of Mar’s ruined streets returned to him.

“Good, then it’s settled. We will enlist the help of the Droragorian in tracking down Orthenius before he has a chance to destroy another city,” Aulrin said. “We will send a messenger to contact Maya in Haven Hollow at once.”

“Why just her? We should send messengers to retrieve all of them,” Cain replied.

“Trust me, General,” Gains began. “Once we contact her, we won’t have to.”

“I have heard rumors of her abilities but I had no idea she was so powerful,” Cain responded.

“Yes. Maya is very special. She will be able to contact her friends once we have briefed her of the situation,” Neila replied.

Cain raised his brow, glaring toward Gains. “Then I’ll send a messenger at once,” he obliged.

“Very good. Dismissed,” Gains ordered

Cain bowed and turned for the exit.

“Oh, and General Cain,” Aulrin called.

Cain halted, facing Aulrin with a repressed scowl.

“When you meet our Droragorian friends please do try to be on your best behavior. I am more than aware of your disdain for them. Despite your feelings, please give them a chance. They are not our enemies.”

Cain nodded and continued toward the door. Azura bowed to the council and followed. Cain left the throne room with spite in his eyes. The guards at the door watched him prance down the hallway mumbling to himself, distinctly planting his feet in disappointment as he disappeared around the corner.

“What’s his problem?” Colin murmured.

“I don’t know, but if he’s that pissed, I’m guessing it has something to do with the dragons. He hates them,” Reginald replied.

Colin was suddenly assailed by an unexpected slap to the face.

“Ow! What the hell!” he squealed.

Azura stormed past him with her chin held high and rounded the corner.

“I’m sorry!” Colin yelled. “But those shoes are just tragic…”

Azura ignored the man’s comment and continued toward Cain’s quarters. When she entered his room he paced the floor, muttering obscenities under his breath.

“Are you all right, father?”

Cain answered Azura’s question with a cold stare, still pacing.

“I’m sorry…sir. Are you all right?” she corrected.

“I’m fine. Ready one of the messengers. I refuse to go myself. I don’t want to be that close to their kind.”

“Right away, sir,” Azura obliged and turned for the door.

“Azura,” Cain called.

Azura halted halfway through the door and faced him.

“Please don’t call me father,” Cain said, his voice stern yet covering a hint of vulnerability that he preferred to keep buried.

Azura looked as if she had been hit in the gut. She stared back at him blankly, a slight sheen of water filling her eyes. She composed herself and left Cain’s quarters, head still high. Cain turned his attention to the window and watched a family of three interacting in the street below. His face was stone, eyes glassy and unmoving, as the family played together laughing.

While Cain pondered in his room Azura headed to the herald’s quarters to inform one of the castle messengers of their current situation. When she entered, a group of men sat talking at a wooden table, one worn from many nights of rowdy gatherings. A lone messenger stood with his back propped against the far wall, watching the card game at the table from a distance. Azura approached the table with crossed arms as if to distance herself from the rowdy bunch.

“Well, hello there, Azura. How can we help you today?” One of the men playfully greeted, brushing his hair back in a pointless attempt to appear presentable.

“I have a job for you. I need a messenger to travel to Haven Hollow to enlist the help of a Droragorian woman named Maya. Gains and the council require an audience with her and her friends,” Azura informed.

“I’ll do it, ma’am. I’m the fastest here,” one of the messengers boasted.

“Hell, I can make the ride to Haven Hollow in half the time you can, fool!” a second messenger protested.

“Please…I’m a mage. I could send a message in a heartbeat.”

“Yeah…a mage that can’t spell for s**t,” Another fired back. “Letter magic is still in its infancy. Most messages never even make it to their destination. We’re better off with an owl or a rider.”

The messenger in the far corner smiled as he watched the messengers bicker with each other for Azura’s attention. Azura locked eyes with the young gentleman against the wall. He had an air of calmness. His golden locks dangled from his head like a mane, shielding his eyes just enough to appear dangerous. He glared back at Azura with eyes of certainty and experience, despite his youthful demeanor. The man exuded confidence, as evident by his creeping smile. He maintained eye contact with her and had already accepted the task.

“Elrick. I want you to inform Maya of our current situation. Make haste,” Azura pointed.

“Yes, ma’am,” Elrick calmly replied.

The bickering messengers looked at Elrick in disbelief, all groaning with shaking heads. “Pretty boy again…they always pick him for the big jobs,” one of the messengers griped.

“Maybe I’m just lucky,” Elrick replied with a smile.

“Yeah…yeah…I hope you fall into a river or get hexed by a witch or something. Get out of here.”

Elrick left the room chuckling and made his way to the council chambers to retrieve the official summons before heading off to the stables. He saddled his horse with gentle hands. He respected the animal, more so than most people. Elrick’s steed stood tall as he mounted the vanilla stallion. He gave his horse a gentle kick but the stallion did not move. Another kick…the stallion didn’t move. Elrick chuckled. “I just gave you three apples not one hour ago,” he said. The horse shook his head, neighing. “Come on, Adon, this quota is ridiculous.” The horse neighed again, shaking more violently. “Okay…I’ll tell you what. You take us to the Highland Crossroads a little ways down the path and I’ll give you two. I’ll give you two more when we arrive…deal?” The horse bobbed his head, agreeing to the terms. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Elrick tapped Adon’s backside and the mare trotted from the stable. Cain watched atop his castle window as Elrick and his horse sped into the distance. Elrick hurried toward Haven Hollow, soaking in the beautiful snow-covered countryside in the process. He loved to ride and to travel. Although simple, it was his calling, and he treasured its little moments. Elrick and his horse rode tirelessly throughout the day toward Maya’s city of peace and tolerance, bearing the terrible news that she already knew.