Axaran indulged in the smell of dirt dampened by the savage rainfall. The aroma gave slack to the knot that had formed in his stomach, abetting the delusion that he was still within the Ratite kingdoms that were now so far below.
He'd heard stories of Ratites, wingless dragons like himself, going mad upon arrival to the floating Sky Kingdoms. Some even leapt to their doom in desperation to return to the ground they knew.
Axaran clung to the belief that such madness was beneath those of his particular trade. The trials of the Shadowforge helped steel his mind against such fears.
Forger Tuth deemed Axaran a prodigy, an appraisal that he intended to live up to by acquiring the most coveted item in all of the Ratite kingdoms.
The egg of a Sky Dragon.
Cracks reached longingly towards the top of the crumbling stone wall that stood fast against the ensuing storm. The benefit of being a Ratite was the smooth scales that allowed him to slide through the cracks with ease.
Emerging from the other side, he marveled at the majesty of the Golden Keep. Large towers stretched tall enough to pierce the sky. Battlements lined the sloped rooftops of the keep, a feature that was seldom used since the raging wars between the Sky Kingdoms ceased.
A long stretch of cobble path led to either side, bending around corners. The heavy downpour of rain and enshrouding darkness made it hard to see if there were any watchers patrolling the area.
Maneuvering in a serpentine fashion, Axaran slunk to the side of a half-raised portcullis. The white stone archway behind led to a tunnel that opened to an interior courtyard of the keep. Rounded metallic doors lined the walls to either side of the tunnel, a stark contrast to the polished stone.
Moving close to the first door, distinct chatter could be heard echoing on the other side.
"Queen Torleth said that it might hatch any night now. Do you think we'll get to see it?"
"Don't get your hopes up. Zete and Taerl are guarding it for the time being. If we took our jobs as seriously as they do, we'd be up in the tower instead of roaming the basements."
Axaran committed the names to memory, then crept towards the next door and listened closely.
Silence.
He pressed against the cold metal until it opened.
Behind the door appeared to be a fairly small room with barrels, crates, and bags of grain that sagged and spilled over. A narrow unlit hallway exited the room, leading deeper into the keep.
Axaran closed the door behind him before venturing down this cold hallway and reaching another door. Unlike before, this one was made of old wood that had long been frayed along the edges.
Sweet and savory fragrances danced into his nostrils. His appetite would have been provoked had his stomach not been churning with fear.
Light trickled through the cracks of the door, and the sound of rushing water and clinking pots became mixed with a casual conversation.
Axaran waited a few beats until the two voices peaked, then proceeded to open the door. He shifted the weight of his body to keep as silent as possible, which allowed him to pour into the next room and fall under one of the tables without notice.
Inside appeared to be two dragons with indigo scales. One had eyes of midnight blue, while the other eyes of emerald green. Covering their backs were matching fabrics with yellow and gold patterns, and a symbol embroidered onto them that resembled a bowl spilling over with an assortment of fruits.They stood on either side of a long table that was cluttered with pots, pans, and an abundance of food. The food itself consisted of familiar meats and vegetables that had been reshaped into abstract designs and placed upon golden plates, a touch undoubtedly given by these passionate chefs.
One of the indigo dragons spoke with a wavering voice. "Do you think the Queens will dine on this meal tonight? They've never been this late. I wouldn't want to serve them something that has gone cold."
"The Queens are gracious and understanding," responded the midnight-eyed dragon, her voice firm. She stared down at the table before her, slicing a watery fruit with a blade that was attached to one of her claws. "They wouldn't fault us for preparing food too early. This storm has thrown everything off schedule."
"If you say so. I'm going to take this dish out to the guards, for now. I'm sure they're tired of waiting around, especially in this weather."
The green-eyed dragon rushed through a doorless frame, exiting the kitchen with a tray of fruits and breads.
The midnight-eyed dragon never broke focus from her slicing. Axaran deduced that she wasn't going to leave anytime soon.
With his heart beating loud in his ears, Axaran pulled in a breath before attempting to crawl towards one of the tables closer to the threshold.
As he moved, his tail caught on one of the table legs. What followed after was the sound of glass shattering against the stone floor and an astonished gasp.
"Who's there?" called out the midnight dragon, now brandishing her utensil as a weapon.
Her eyes scanned the kitchen before landing on Axaran. She pointed the blade towards him, but took a few steps back towards where the other Sky Dragon had left.
"Come out! I can see you!"
Axaran's eyes never left hers, even as he emerged from underneath the table.
Seeing his full form, the indigo dragon looked awestruck at Axaran's back.
She spoke cautiously, though assumed an authoritative demeanor. "Are you a Ratite? How did you get up here? Explain yourself!"
Axaran raised his claw, masking his thieving intentions with a sheepish grin. "I mean no harm, ma'am. I was brought here when I accidentally got trapped in a food crate from the Ratite kingdoms. I crawled in for a nap, and then suddenly I woke up here."
The dragoness lowered her claw a bit, her eyes switching between intrigue and fear. "You can't be here. Your kind is forbidden to roam among the Sky Kingdoms. If the guards catch you, you will be thrown to your death."
"Hence why I'm hiding, ma'am." Axaran tried to carry as much sadness in his eyes as he could. He wasn't as good of a liar as others in the Shadowforge, but this story was at least earning him a conversation.
There was a long, inspecting pause between the two of them. Eventually, the indigo dragoness lowered her utensil until it tapped against the stone floor. The bits of fear in her demeanor suddenly changed to that of a ruler addressing a troublesome peasant.
"What was your plan to return to your kingdom?"
Axaran's eyes averted hers. "My hope was to find a beautiful Sky Dragon that would be willing to fly me back to the ground."
"Beautiful?" The dragoness searched him before her eyes widened in realization. She shook her head and scoffed. "Oh no. No, no, no, no, no. You'd better not be asking if I can fly you down there myself."
"I don't have many other options, and it pains me to ask you to take such a risk with me." Axaran took a cautious step closer. "Please."
She eyed him over one more time before letting out a breath through her nose. "Fine. I'll fly you down. It's going to have to wait until after the storm, however."
"Thank you. What's your name?"
"Leova. I'm the appointed chef of the Golden Keep."
"I appreciate your help, Leova. My name is Axaran."
There was another pause, and Axaran could have sworn he caught a smile starting to crease her maw.
She motioned for him to follow. "Hurry. There isn't much time until my brother returns from bringing food to the guards. He would surely tell others in the keep about you."
Axaran followed close behind, acting as a second pair of eyes and ears.
Leova peered sidelong over her shoulder. "I know a place where you can hide until morning. I'll retrieve you before the rest of the keep wakes up, and escort you back to the ground."
Axaran nodded his head in silent agreement.
Though hard to tell from a distance, he could now see through her assertive demeanor. Behind her piercing eyes was the childish wonder of someone who believed they may have found their call to adventure. It was a naive purity that seemed too normal for a powerful Sky Dragon.
The two of them maneuvered through ragged doors and weathered hallways until they entered a particularly dusty room. The wood on the beams was worn down with rot, while the walls were vacant of any windows to the outside world.
"It's not comfortable, but it's dry. No one has used this room for a long time, and I'm fairly sure the maids don't tend to it."
"Thank you," Axaran said darkly.
Just as she turned to face him, Leova felt Axaran's front bicep constricting her neck, while his claws clamped like a vice around her snout. She struggled, her wings opening wildly like a fly stuck in a web until she was eventually pulled to the ground. Her struggling gradually settled as her eyes rolled back and her body went limp.
Axaran released her, casting a wayward glance to see her chest still rising and falling with breath.
VOCÊ ESTÁ LENDO
The Wings she Carries (Book 1)
FantasiaBorn in the safe solitude of the Quiet Wilds and kept from the outside world, a Sky Dragon by the name of Pitahaya must set out on an adventure to find her missing father. All the while she must learn how to live in a world that's been ravaged by mo...