(Ghari's POV)
It had been 3 days since we left the East Kingdom. We were traveling by steam train. I preferred to fly as my dragon but my parents insisted we take the train. I understood their concern but I didn't think it would be an issue for us royals. The lands between the east and west had been known to be the home of giants and orcs and ogres and they didn't take lightly to us dragons flying over their land.
I had asked Ker and Mich to join Cahir and me. I figured the four of us would be enough to investigate if what Cahir had told us was real. He continued to be very adamant that what he saw and felt that night was the energy of magical creatures. He had described to us that the humans in the show, looked human but something just wasn't right. The animals in the show appeared to be abused and forced and some of the things they had to do for the entertainment of others was just not normal for them. He said he could feel or more sense the energy from them and it told him they were not just animals but shapeshifters who were not allowed to shift into their original form.
Before we left I had discussed Cahir's concerns with my father. He felt that it was important that we check into it. He had been concerned with the welfare of the Earth Kingdom for some time now. About 10 years ago, a few years after the disappearance of the royal family in the north, the royal family of the Earth Kingdom also disappeared. The humans had overthrown the king and demanded to be led by the humans. My father came to an agreement between the humans and the council to have no royal family rule but allow the Royal Guards to oversee the day-to-day concerns of its people.
The deep corruption of the Earth Kingdom was left mostly unchecked unless someone complained to the Royal Guard. This situation was a bit different though. It involved magical creatures and some form of abuse. We did not take these types of crimes lightly. Those found to be guilty were almost always sentenced to death. The only exception ever was for a dragon named Aziel and that had been a mistake. Although he was never heard from again, it's believed he might be involved with the disappearance of the royals.
We still had a couple of hours till we reached our destination, the city of Elfdom. The guys were all sleeping while I thought about the conversion I had with my father, King Erman.
"Ghari, make sure to report to me directly, what you find. We can't let the humans or whomever is behind this do whatever they want. The heavens and the underworld might be involved and we don't want them to know we are investigating. Also if they figure out what we're up to they may want to take over and then we won't get the answers we need. "
I'm not sure why we had to keep this under wraps but he must've had his reasons and at this point, I wasn't going to go against his wishes. I look at the guys all peacefully resting and felt grateful they were here with me. We had all grown up together and were more like brothers than friends. Mich was strong and second to Kerwyn in combat. Kerwyn was smart and had risen to the highest rank warrior when he was just 11 years old. Cahir was my younger blood brother. He was a hot head and usually acted without thinking but he had saved me more than once from those looking to get rid of me. Being the next in line for the throne had put a target on my back. My father did his best to protect us but he couldn't be around us all time.
Ker became my Black Knight as per my father. He was just the bodyguard but since we were the same age, we became very close. He's not good at letting loose but I'm glad he takes his duties seriously. Mich is Cahir's personal guard and best friend. Like me and Ker they too were the same age and had made a lasting bond.
I look out the window and take in the scenery. The East was mostly plains and some mountains but the Earth was composed of thick dense forests. The land surrounding Dragon's Garden was mostly desert-like. It was dry and rocky. The Devil's Mountain separated the lower lands from the Earth Kingdom which provided it with protection. I believe this is why the humans feel better living here than anywhere else. The werewolves occupied the outer forests and borders. The Lycans shared this area but also lived in the city. They were more human-like so they preferred to live in cities. The dwarves and elves also lived more in the cities than the forest but they also liked nature so they had smaller villages throughout the forest. It was said that the giants who lived in the forest tended to live on high ground like that on top of Devil's Mountain. I always found these lands to be suffocating.
I loved the green plains of the eastern sea. It was calming to fly over the plains sprinkled with small villages. It was like small diamonds when the sun rose over them. I would spar out in the fields and use the elements to strengthen my magic. My parents use to love flying out there, not so much anymore but I went as often as I could. I would live out there if I wasn't meant to be king. I hope my mate will be of the dragon race so that we can take flight together and maybe build a tranquil place out on the plains.
The city lights could be seen off in the distance so I figured we were close.
"Hey! Knuckleheads!! Look alive we'll be at the station in a few minutes."
Cahir was in the seat next to me, while Ker and Mitch were across the aisle. I shook Cahir and spoke loudly in his ear, "Get up Ca!"
"I'm f**king up Ga! Stop f**king shaking me and go away!", He slapped my hand away and I laughed. It was like when we were dragonlings
Ker and Mitch heard the commotion and stood up at attention. I asked them to get our bags and head for the exit. Once off the train, the air was crisp and fall colors took the trees. It made it seem very picturesque and tranquil but in the silence and beauty, I felt like it was hiding something. There was slight uneasiness within my dragon. He stirred uncomfortably and I couldn't help but agree with him.
"So, do you want to go straight to the sideshow or go to the elf castle on Mt. Eves?", Ker was eyeing the station and the thick forest beyond.
"I want to go see the sideshow before the crowds get there. Ca said the show typically starts at sundown and that looks like it'll give us like an hour or so.", I said to Ker while taking in the scenery.
Cahir agrees and suggests we take a carriage or horses to the show. He felt it would help us not to announce that royalty was in the Earth Kingdom. The outer entrance of the station had lots of carriages waiting for fares. We walked up to the nearest carriage driver and Cahir spoke with him. 3o minutes later we were all in the carriage and being taken deep into the Dwarfs woods.
Cahir knowing the area better than us travels upfront with the driver. Ker seats beside me and we talk about what our plans are while we investigate.
"I really hope these people are doing things by the book. The Royal Guard tried to look into them but had not reported anything out of the ordinary.", I said to Ker while looking at the passing forest.
"I hope so too. I would not want to have to deal with the council or the underworld"
"Do you think the underworld is involved? It could be the heavens or just the humans trying to make a coin."
Mitch doesn't state his opinion on the matter but I can see that his mind is thinking of the possibilities this might be connected to the underworld. Ker shrugs his shoulders and the rest of the ride is done in silence. The carriage is ricketty and keeps rocking back and forth I feel a little sick but as my dragon feels the movement he stabilizes me. I'm surprised that it hasn't fallen apart. It also smells like s*x and cigars. The small window I've been starring out of helps me breathe but I can't wait to exit this death trap. The road becomes smooth and the forest opens up to a large mansion sitting on a hill. It's almost as large as the elven castle.
Mitch touches my leg and asks," Why so serious Prince?"
"I'm just trying to understand what we're looking for here and what we going to do if what Cahir saw and sensed is real."
"Let's just keep an open mind here and take one situation at a time. We don't know if anything is actually going on.", Mitch said as the carriage came to a halt in front of a very raggedy old large tent. The only way this thing is standing has to be magic.
"Hey, brother, maybe you'll get lucky while we out here. Maybe you'll find your forever mate.", Ker says as he exits the carriage.
"I'm only 18. I'm not in any rush to find her. Although it would be nice if she was a dragon too.", I say back and look up at the s**t-colored tent. A wooden sign hung above the entrance that read "The Moritzio SideShow"
We asked the driver to wait for us and paid him a little extra coin for his trouble. He greedily accepted and we enter the tent.
(Mia's POV)
I was getting the routine down and practice was going well until I felt my heart speed up and my belly tighten. My focus was off and I was making mistakes. Mistakes could cause serious injury. Luckily Ciel made sure we were always safe. I don't know how he did it but if any of us slipped or tumbled off the ropes he was there to catch us. Rayna could tell my concentration was off and suggested we take a break before the show started.
We all agreed and began our climb back down to the ground. "Do you feel that?", I asked Ray as I felt something very dense in the air.
"No, Mia. Are you okay? Do you feel faint again?", Rayna reached the ground and almost walked right into me. I had paused suddenly as I see 4 very attractive men enter the tent.
"Hey!!! Mia!!! What are you doing? Seriously, girl. I think you're still not ok to perform tonight.", she said as she looked at me in dismay and felt my forehead.
Ray hadn't noticed them and continued to try to get me to react.
"Hello, I'm sorry but the show doesn't start for about a half-hour yet. You can't come in here without paying!", says Marina suddenly drawing my attention and making Ray aware of the men.
I try not to gawk or drool but these chocolate candy-colored men are the most beautiful men I had ever seen in my 15 years in this world. My eyes kept going to the tallest and darkest one. He had amazing black opal eyes, a chiseled chin, and his hair was in braids and drew half-up in the back. He wore a black shirt that was a little tight around his arms and showed all his delicious muscles. His dark-colored pants sat all in the right places and his legs appeared very strong. My eyes scanned him and then they landed on a tattoo on his bare skin. It was on his upper arm between the elbow and his shoulder. The black dragon looked almost alive as the tail and legs wrapped around his arm. The wings were down and back and it looked right into your soul.
I took a deep breath in trying to quell the fire that started to brew in my inner core. Then I tried to re-focus on what Marina was saying to them.
"Who are you and Please leave you can't be here."
"We're sorry to interrupt your show but we are here from the Eastern Kingdom Royal Palace. ", said the dark chocolate man.
"I don't care where you're from, Sirs. If Alincdor or Helyma find you here before the show starts and without paying the entrance fee, they will harm you and may even get us in trouble. I'm going to ask you gentleman to please leave and come back later.", Ciel speaks up and tries to usher them out of the tent.
Not sure when Ciel joined us but hearing his deep voice brings me back to the present fully and I take my eyes off of the dreamy man and look at my hands. I couldn't help but want to approach him and throw my arms around him. I did my best to hold it all in and then grabbed Ray's arm and whispered to her to help me back behind the curtains.
I knew if Al or Helyma showed up we would all be in trouble. They didn't like to give anything away for free. They were very strict about that and I didn't want to add more trouble to my week. Ray looks at me and seems to understand my plea so she takes my arm and we head towards the back when I hear the dark chocolate man's friend say, "It is not our intention to get you or the others in trouble. We also are not trying to get a free show. "
"We are just here to ask you and whoever is in charge a few questions. Would you and/or boss be available to talk to Mr.Ghari?", said the shorter man with ice in his dreads.