Preservation Ch 5
Oh noes! Problems! Mystery! What will happen next? Good thing you asked to proofread, otherwise this is the last available chapter for you to read. ^.^
Chapter 5
Seraphi Antaaranil 4, second century, Etassus 39414 Vahrak
Our care was tended to by the charming infirmary staff, who were less than thrilled at our constant attempts to “escape" and return to training. For the most part, I remained complacent though I had to admit I was more restless than the others. As one who was used flying on a regular, daily basis… I wasn't all too thrilled. I didn't really spend much time alone, though. Over the days my entire training group, or at least those who survived, came by, though most of them seemed to be in a sort of reverent state of wonder. After a practically worshipping dragon finally left, bowing on his way out, the green-scaled dragoness sitting beside me absently picking at her claws burst out in laughter.
“Oh, you've really done it this time, Seraphi," Tarinth said, wiping a tear of mirth from the corner of her eye. My green companion lay beside me in a similar fashion to my bandaged form, albeit far more comfortably.
I shot her an exasperated glare. “What is going on? Did some godly figure possess me or something?"
Tarinth gave me an odd look. “So you haven't heard the rumors?"
I raised my bandaged foreleg, gesturing to the long stitched cuts in my flanks, and rustled my wings, tied to my body with strong ?and itchy? ropes. “Does it look like I've had time to fly about, maybe hear a rumor or two?" I snapped my head up suddenly, gesturing excitedly. “Oh! I hear that spot of fungus on the wall over there has all of the gossip I need to pick up on." My gaze returned to a deadpan stare.
“No, I haven't heard the rumors. So, if you don't mind?"
Tarinth lowered her voice. “ The younger dragons that all received commendations for that battle slew no more than maybe… ten? Fifteen, if they were lucky?" She shook her head. “Even then some of the battle-hardened warriors paled in comparison to you. Those fighting near you can attest to it. You, my dear, killed at the very least eighty, probably more, of those Ivarni soldiers… and brought quite a bit of attention to yourself, now."
“Yes, she has."
I turned my head to see a pair of dragons enter the expansive stone hall. A deep purple-and-gold dragon was trailed by another, smaller, darker dragon. It was the dragon who had spoken and Jasik, respectively. I tensed. From the way my rebellious brother was unusually quiet near him, I could tell at the very least he was high ranking in my brother's views.
As they neared, Tarinth tensed protectively. “Who are you?" She asked firmly but not unkindly. The purple dragon ignored her.
At the confrontation Jasik stepped forward, nodding respectfully to his new friend, then to Tarinth.
“Tarinth, Seraphi, I'd like to introduce my new friend, Retaka'Versoth." With that, Jas lay on my other side, opposite from Tarinth. “He's been keeping an eye on us for a while, much like all of the other promising new recruits."
I tilted my head back up to the newly named Retaka. He glared at Jasik for a moment, then turned his gaze back to me.
“As your… friend... here mentioned..." he tipped his head to Tarinth for a moment, though it was anything but kind. “...your rather incredible skill on the battlefield recently has drawn the attention of some of the higher-ups in the city. Now, while this may be gratifying in some ways, your skills, I feel, would be better suited to… an expedition, let's say."
I nodded slowly, taking that in. “And… what exactly is it you would have me do if I accepted?" I asked. I was at the very least a small bit suspicious;I had already heard some of what they had said a short while ago, and the pause between the two times was not exactly endearing.
The violet dragon grinned faintly, but it faded quickly, his expression sobering. “Straight to the point, then," he muttered.
“You've seen the city, have you not? The constant threat of attack, the drills… in the past, our ancestors had higher education. There was peace where they lived, until our past leaders... “ Retaka let the word drip from his tongue as if poison. “...tried to manipulate those humans to serve us." He spread his wings, as if revealing the entire world to me. “As you can see, it hasn't worked so well."
I nodded. It was common history; the Ivarnos humans had resisted the temptation of greatness to their race in serving ours in their moment of weakness, and now we were weak ourselves. It was fairly recent, which made it an impossibility that this was a war brought on by our kind. No, a centuries-old grudge between an ancient human family and our race had led to the war to eradicate us.
“And how does this apply to me?"
“Our group believes there are still wild places out there, places where we could live safely without fear of extinction. My organization would like you to join my team of three in search of that place, and find us a place to begin again and save our kind."
Tarinth raised a wingtip as though we were in a class. “Just one question. When you say, your organization, what exactly do you mean?"
Jasik opened his mouth to answer, but I beat him to it.
“Dusk Angels," I blurted out of impulse. I had only guessed, but my brother's eyes widened so far I winced. Still, I felt a small rush of satisfaction at my success.
Retaka returned his gaze from Tarinth to me. Then he chuckled.
“I am surprised you managed to recover enough on our first visit to eavesdrop, Seraphi. Well done, though take care who you tell that name to, It could get you in a lot of trouble, what with the restrictions on organizations outside of the hierarchy…"
I shrugged. The battle had been sheer luck and instinct; they should have been more of a threat, I was sure of that much at least. And if they weren't even going to make sure I was asleep before speaking about me, over me, I wasn't going to tell them. In my perspective, I was just an ordinary dragon who had an immense lucky streak.
“Anyway," he continued, shaking his head, “Our little organization is also founded partially due to the belief that the existing government is… well, corrupt. You would, of course, essentially be turning traitor without actually betraying anyone… not until the right time, anyway."
“Oh-kay… slow down. For one, I'm not sure I even believe you. This sounds just a little suspicious to me, Retaka, and suppose I did go on your journey. What then?"
Jasik stepped forward, only a hint of pleading in his eyes. “We leave this… this place of war. Is it not enough for you to save hundreds of thousands?"
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. Leave Vahrak? The only home I had ever known? Surely they were joking. But the Versoth stood there, unreadable.
I growled in frustration. “Leave me alone," I growled. Retaka only bowed his head in acquiescence. Turning back to the exit, he shot one last comment at me.
“Please hurry. The longer you wait, after all, the more likely it is there would be nothing left to decide on." He paused. “Coming, Jasik?"
My brother nodded, standing. He glanced at me, paling when he saw the furious expression on my face. Then he hurried out of the room.
Tarinth sighed. “Jas, what have you gotten yourself into…" she muttered to herself.
I would have said just about the same, but I was too angry. My brother was being so foolish to believe what the dragon had pitched. What was more, I was at the same time expected to betray my elders. I would lose everything to save myself and a small group; no, I would not go out of my way to betray everything I knew. My mind concluded, I lay down my head to rest.
The next night I woke suddenly from a strange noise. Beside me, Tarinth snored softly, her flanks rising and falling softly in a tight emerald ball. Rising silently to my feet, I padded stealthily to the back of the infirmary hall, cringing every time one of the sleeping dragons stirred. Truth be told, if one of them woke up I really wouldn't have a reason to break the strict curfew.
As I reached the back wall I heard a loud thump, followed by a muffled curse. I growled low in the back of my throat; whoever the intruder was it was obviously someone who didn't know one thing about staying quiet. It was probably one of those clumsy Versoth, sneaking where he shouldn't have, trying to return to duty. Still, the voice sounded odd, young and high, even…
For a moment I paced silently, waiting for the would-be thief to make his way inside. But all I heard for the next minute or two were the gentle snores of the other injured dragons. Turning disappointedly, I began to trudge to my bed once more when I heard a small squeak of fright. In an instant I turned, eyes locking onto the newcomer and tensed to pounce.
The only thing, I suspect, that saved the human boy was my surprise. I was momentarily stunned at the sight of one of those humans, not yet even a man, in one of the deepest, most secure sections of the city. But as I returned to my senses, the moment ?and the boy? were gone. I heard footsteps clattering down the hallway, towards one of the storage rooms.
I hurried after him, no longer thinking of the possible problems or even whether anyone heard me. I was on the hunt.