Page 19 of Blood of Dragons
I’LL BURN IT TO THE GROUND.
I walked across the land that seemed untouched by humans. There were no trails for horses and carts, no footprints of passersby in the soil, no sign that the land was inhabited at all. It wasn’t cold the way it was on the other side of the mountains, welcoming rather than harsh, slightly humid.
The closer I came to the forest, the more I realized its size. Not just in leagues, but in height. The trees were taller than the ones I knew back at home, much taller. The canopy was so high in the air it was hard to see the top. Consolidated and dense, it seemed unlikely that sunshine could touch the forest floor.
The closer I came, the open ground was replaced by trees, and they became denser as I approached the tree line. The sounds of the birds became louder, thousands of them chirping in the branches of the trees, all singing different songs, so it was a cacophony of music.
I peered past the trees into the shade, seeing the white flowers on the forest floor. There were wildlands back home with forests and trees, but they were different from these. There were pines with moss growing on the north side, with pinecones and rocks on the ground. But here, the leaves were a lighter green, the trunks paler in color. Flowers were everywhere, birds praising their beautiful world.
I’d never seen anything like it.
I stepped into the forest and that music continued, the birds everywhere, high into the trees, so far toward the canopy that I couldn’t distinguish their features. I moved forward, through the bushes and the flowers, and then a bird swooped down in front of me.
It landed twenty feet away, having an enormous beak that was orange and yellow, its body black, its eyes intelligent. He cocked his head left and right as he looked at me, sizing me up like he knew I didn’t belong there. Then he hopped and released a loud call from his enormous beak before he took flight.
I watched him go before I proceeded forward, farther into the forest.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
It’s beautiful. Lush and green, lots of birds.
YOU DON’T SEE ANYONE?
A cute bird said hello, but that was it.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
I will. I continued my journey deeper into the forest, seeing patches of sunlight on the forest floor coming from the smallopenings in the canopy. It was cooler in the shade, but it was a nice reprieve from the hot sun.
I walked for a long time, heading deeper into the forest and seeing the same trees and flowers over and over. The birds remained constant, claiming the canopy for their homes. The place was so big that I wondered if I would find anyone inside, even if the elves lived here. It would be easy to get lost if I couldn’t feel Inferno’s mind and know the trail back to the tree line.
I’d just been appreciating the tranquility of the forest when I blinked, and everything changed.
“Halt.”
I was surrounded on all sides, soldiers appearing from their hidden spots behind trees and rocks. Dressed in dark green armor with black capes, some had their swords at the ready, but most of them had arrows aimed at my exposed neck.
I stopped and felt my lungs freeze. I had a sword at my hip, but I didn’t reach for it. Instead, I raised my hands slightly, away from the hilt of my sword, to show my peaceful intention. “My name is Calista Laurier. My father was King Laurier of Scorpion Valley. He was killed ten years ago when the Death King claimed our lands for his own. My father left me a letter and a map directing me to Riviana Star, and that’s why I’m here.” My hands remained in the air, looking at the soldier who seemed to be in charge because he was the only one who didn’t point an arrow at me or grip his sword in his hand. His armor was different from the rest, heavier with medals pinned to his chest that looked like flowers. He had dark hair, wrinkles in the corners of his eyes like he was several decades older than me, but he was muscular,cords running up his neck, and his eyes had that same authority that Talon’s did.
He continued to size me up, his green eyes piercing into my face.
I stared back, waiting for him to say something. “Who are you?”
He raised one hand slightly, and the soldiers immediately lowered their bows and returned their swords to their scabbards.
“Are you the king?”
He came closer until we were just feet apart. “There is no king in Riviana Star. We serve Queen Eldinar, who has sat upon the throne the last fifteen hundred years, the most powerful and beautiful queen who’s ever lived. It’s an honor to serve her.”
“I would love to meet her, if I’m welcome.”
“Are you alone?” His eyes remained sharp like the edge of the sword he didn’t draw.
“Yes, I’m alone.” Inferno was leagues away from the forest, so I considered myself alone.
He watched me for another moment before he turned away. “Follow me. It’s a long journey.”
We walked in silence for hours, the muscular human in the lead, while the other elves flanked me from behind. Elves and humans were hardly distinguishable. The only real difference I could see was in their complexion. The elves had a glow to their skin, so unblemished it looked like glass, forever youthful. The human, however, looked like time had slowly ravaged his appearance.There were lines around his eyes, a hollowness to his cheeks, spots of gray in his hair.