Standing before two enormous Redwood trees I can't believe what I'm seeing. One is firm, solid, lively with a ton of thick, heavy, curved, branches full of leaves coming from it. While the other is the complete opposite. Where that one is lively and full of color, the other is dead and blackened. A twisted behemoth of a black, hollow truck sits tall and looming as thin, dark, barren branches twist out to try and touch the sky. They both have large slits in the bottom where someone could walk through if they wanted, but I'm glad that we don't have to. I'm worried which one the guys would choose if I left it up to them. The alive tree looks warm and welcoming, the slit through part of the bottom large enough for anyone to walk through easily, with sunlight shining through and color that is pleasing to look at. While the dead one, even being barren and out in the open, the light refuses to touch it, like its darkness will swallow it whole and it will be lost forever. It sits by itself, all alone, scared and scorched, the inside looking as if one got too close it might catch fire and become part of the tree itself.
Suluk reaches a hand out to me, but I refuse to take it instead looking back at the trees and the small mounds of dirt where they just buried something. He follows my vision and smiles softly before leaning against a boulder sat beside the live tree. "Curious? It's a custom all dragons do. It's to pay respect to the trees that protect the entrance of our land, and an offering to our ancestors who built this kingdom. It's us respecting not only them, but the process of life and death. One cannot exist without the other." He looks towards me as he explains. Confusion even greater than before fills me and I can't stop my face from scrunching up as it does so, making him laugh light heartedly. "It'll make more sense once you see the doors." Is all he states before reaching his hand back out to me again. I refuse yet again and walk past him, hearing his sigh right before I face plant into an invisible barrier making shimmering gold ripples that fan out around where I just hit. It looks just like how a fish or a stone that is thrown makes ripples on the surface of water.
"You can't pass freely yet. You have to be accompanied by a dragon to pass until you get your item, but thanks for the entertainment." Kieren laughs somewhere from the otherside of the barrier, making my anger and embarrassment rise to an astronomical level.
"Just ignore him, he is in a mood because he hasn't slept well the past few nights." Suluk whispers to me as he offers me his hand again. Begrudgingly I slap my hand in his and walk with him through the barrier with ease, my mind unable to keep up with all of the new, fascinating things I'm seeing for the first time.
Beyond what looks like it should be more forest, which ends up just being a ruse for a barrier, I'm met with large, thick, painstakingly tall flagstone walls. Some places have vines and moss encroaching on them to show their age. Looking between Kieren and Suluk for an answer. "I've never seen flagstone used for a wall before, why did you use that?" I can't stop the question from running past my lips. Kieren runs a hand over the tough, solid wall before pulling his hand away quickly. I mimic the action and my hand burns as if it was set on fire, pulling the tender flesh away quickly to look at him stunned.
"Flagstone is extremely durable and tough, it also becomes extremely hot from absorbing the heat of the sun all day, and unreasonably slippery when wet. Makes it hard for intruders to try and get over it if they somehow get past the barrier. Only dragons blessed with heated abilities can scale such a thing if they can not fly over it, or open the door." Suluk explains calmly.
"And the sandstone doors? What are the carvings? I didn't think there was a desert around here to make such things?" I ask as I gently run my fingers over the delicate carvings in the massive door. Having to bend my neck all the way back to try and see the top where even more carvings are. I'm surprised when Kieren speaks up to explain instead of Suluk.
"The carvings and ancient writings depict a momentous point for dragon kind. The last of us had been hunted down, killed off and becoming extinct from this world." I look at him visibly confused because there are dragons still around today so that makes absolutely no sense. He chuckles before continuing, pulling me back to show me what was at the top of the doors. "That picture up there shows how the goddess was upset that all her children were killed off, hunted for sport. That man standing there was a human who was known as a dragon slayer, one of the most famous in the world, and when he killed the final dragon he had sealed his fate. The goddess in all her anguish and sorrow came down and told him, 'Because you bear such hatred and malice for those you do not understand, you will now be cursed to live like them.'"
"What does that mean?" I look up to him, fully invested into this tale. I thought I had seen and heard about most things in my travels, but I am just now realizing how wrong I was.
"It means she cursed him to become the thing he hunted. She turned him into a dragon. He was the first dragon to have magical abilities, he could breathe fire, shift into a human form and he could even turn others into dragons when he wanted to."
"No way!" I gasp, making both men chuckle and nod their heads.
"It's true. That's how the goddess brought her children back. At first the man thought he was cursed to live such a life. He had accidentally turned his mother and best friend into dragons just by being around them for too long. He eventually learned to control his gifts and would later be known as the Greatest Dragon King, the first dragon ruler who would later create this kingdom. He would help people of all kinds to become dragons if their heart was pure, and take refugees in who needed a place. He fell in love with a human woman and had many children who had been blessed with different gifts to eventually create the dragons you know today. His kingdom grew to more than just dragons, to hold people of all races, backgrounds and mindsets. He realized after a while that the goddess did not curse him, but blessed him with a rich and fulfilling life." Kieren sums up as if he is reading the beautiful, elegant, unknown words in the middle, as I track the carvings of his story drawn out around the edge of the doors.
"The land was barren once, a wasteland, when the first king came here, so stones were available everywhere. His best friend was blessed with the gifts of nature, so he helped change the land over time to become more inhabitable for the few of them, unknowing it was going to become what it did. Plus if you believe legends Sandstone is a stone of creativity. It helps to build and strengthen the cohesiveness and solidarity within relationships, encourages truth, promotes clarity in thought and sight, balances one's reality, and facilitates ease of movement and change." Suluk finishes up as he and Kieren stand on each side of the doors, placing their hands firmly on the warm, rough stone.
"Are you going to try and open that massive thing?! That has to weigh more than anyone can push! Even a dragon!" Blurting out before slapping a hand over my mouth, I end up drawing the attention back to me by accident. While Suluk laughs loudly, Kieren just shakes his head and whispers softly, 'humans.' yet again.
"Dragons can use magic, so this door has been spelled so only a dragon's strength can open it. Only a dragon's heart can pass through the barrier, that's why you needed to be touching one of us so we could help you pass and now you need us to open the door. Not everything can be done by yourself, little human." Kieren explains as Suluk his wiping his tears away at my outburst.
They both return to their spots as they plant their feet firmly on the ground and their hands on each door. Their feet dig into the dirt as their bodies tense and muscle flex as they slowly push open the door. Once the door is open enough for us to pass through, seeing to the other side, I'm surprised to see guards of all different species greet us when we walk through. The doors slamming back together with a deafening, hard thud when they close and set back in place making it seem as though it is one giant piece of sandstone surrounded by flagstone.
"Captains are back!" An elvish guard yells over his shoulder to others behind him. Making the rest of the men come to stand by to greet them. This boy doesn't look like he's more than 18 summers old, but Elves age differently than most species from what little I've heard. He could be anywhere up to 115 summers old for all I know.
"Ah, Clover, how have you been? It looks like you have completed your training, I'm glad to see that!" Suluk greets the fellow with a small hug and a warm smile, making the man named Clover mirror him and show off his new armor a little more.
"Yes sir! I finished up about a fortnight ago!" He states proudly, his chest puffing out a little as he does so. His boyish face is happy with a slight glow about it, as his light purple eyes shine, making his golden skin seem even more filled with a warmth from within.
"Glad to see everyone is doing well. How has business been since we left, Ginger?" Kieren speaks to another soldier, clasping his hand around their forearm as they do the same back.
"Business has been slow since your leave, but I'm sure that will change when the people know you are back." A smooth, feminine voice speaks back to him, startling me as it does. After their weird handshake is over the woman goes to take off her helmet, letting long, fiery, dark red, wavy hair fall out that sits high in a ponytail atop her head. Her face is slim and oval shaped, soft features accentuate her full lips and round, golden eyes rimmed with thick lashes. She is beautiful from her fiery hair, down to her long legs and chestnut skin tone. In the sun, small, fire-like freckles can be seen dusting over cheeks and nose. If she didn't look so human, I'd think she was a fire sprite.
"I'm glad to hear things haven't been too busy for you all while we were away. Ginger, there is someone I want to introduce you to…" Kieren turns around looking around for a moment. Since he walked away to talk to her, and Suluk has been talking to Clover, I decided to stay near the door. Feeling very out of place here, making the stone of anxiety I've had since landing, sink further down into my gut, weighing me down in place. Kierens eyes land on me. Raising a brow as he walks over to offer me a hand. "Come now little human, we won't bite unless you ask us to." He smirks, making my cheeks heat slightly as I slap his hand away.
Following behind him closely as we walk over to Ginger, I stay quiet, unsure how to speak to these new people. "Ginger, this is Ava. Ava, this is a good friend of ours, Ginger. If by any chance you can not get a hold of either of us, she's the one you'll want to talk to." She smiles warmly at me as she offers a long, slim hand.
"Humans still shake hands when they greet each other, correct?" She asks with a small smile on her face, her eyes dance with wonder and amusement.
"Yes ma'am. It's nice to meet you." I take her hand gently in my own softly shaking it. She grips mine a little tighter with a chuckle. I'm startled to feel her hand is warm, as if she was just touching the hot flagstone as well and it didn't bother her. Her nails are short, recently cut by the looks of them, with a deep blue color that slowly fades out to purple and ends in red.
"You can shake my hand harder than that, I promise I won't break." She teases softly as we finish up and let go of each other's hands. She looks me over with a smile. "It's nice to meet you as well. I'm glad those trouble makers made a friend while they were gone. Any friend of theirs is a friend of mine. If you need anything at all just let me know, even if it's just to get away from them." She jokes and lightly elbows Kieren in the side, making him roll his eyes. I can't stop the giggle that bubbles up, making her smile as well. "So she can smile! How amazing."
"Ignore her if she becomes too much. She has a spirit and mouth that never stops getting her in trouble. That is an unfortunate trait of her being a fire sprite, afterall. Her mother is the one I told you about that has a small shop in the city." Kieren explains. Her face lights up, making the small freckles seem as though they're on fire and almost float off her face. She takes my hand in both of hers as he bends down to speak to me at my height.
"Oh yes! Mom needs help with her shop and she's looking to hire someone soon. Business has been growing, and I unfortunately am not much help. She runs an herb, and tea shop. Since I run hot, well… when I touch the dried herbs they tend to catch fire. That's definitely not good for business. I've been fired at least twice a day by her in the last few years." She chuckles out, making Kieren and I laugh along with her.
He gently grabs my shoulder and pulls me away, speaking loud enough for her to hear and whine when he is finished. "Like I said before, ignore her. Like Pixies, Sprites are so small that they only have room for one emotion at a time. Hers just so happens to be over excitement most of the time."
It's not long before we leave and head down a large, dirt path, winding between trees and boulders. I look around for this city they have spoken of, but find nothing. My confusion must show on my face as Suluk slows down and sits on a large, flat, rock. Patting beside him for me to do the same. I instead sit on the fallen tree across from him as Kieren sits beside him. "What's with that face?" Suluk asks, leaning forward to rest his hands on his knees.
"I am confused. You have women as soldiers!? You have different people here other than dragons? She's a Fire Sprite? Where is this grand city you spoke of? All I've seen so far is grass, trees, dirt, and rocks. No houses, or buildings, no castle or streets. Where are we going?"
"So many questions. If I knew you were going to be this impatient I'd have gone ahead by myself." Kieren speaks up, leaning back on his hands as his head falls back to look up at the little bit of sky, and trees.
"She's new here, give her some slack." Suluk lightly kicks his foot making him scoff. "We told you the story of how this place was made, and yet you thought it was not real?" Suluk asks, his face an open book of curiosity as he barely rolls his head onto his shoulder to peek at me.
"I thought it was just a story… a legend people have passed down through generations, or something. Something to give people hope, or a bedtime story for children." I reason with him.
"Don't you know that legends and myths ring with truth. The small parts may change over time, but the big part of the story itself will always be true. As for the city, it's deeper into the kingdom. You will get to see it tomorrow. We didn't want to overwhelm you with a lot in one day. For the rest of the day we thought we'd help you clean up your new home, and get everything in order to help your transition here be a little easier." He stops when my face scrunches up again.
"House? Home? I do not have those things? What do you mean?" Kieren sighs, joining the conversation again.
"Like he said at the human palace, you are free. You may do what you like, train when you like, take whatever job you choose and spend that money how you see fit. In order for you to be free and independent you need your own living quarters. This will be temporary, but I have an extra house you can use until you save up your money and go get one of your own choosing. One you would want and to fill with your own belongings and decorate as you wish." He explains as he sits up and looks directly at me. Shock must be written all over my face as they both chuckle silently. "What? Did you not believe us? We were under truth potions while there, and besides we would never make a promise that big, and not fulfill it." Kieren speaks as if he's offended I didn't believe him to begin with. Suluk just sits there and nods in agreement.
"So I'll be given a house and get to choose my work of my own free will. I'm actually free?" I ask, astounded and unable to really believe what is happening. I feel as though my ears have lied to me, like what they said can not be the truth. Tears brim my eyes as I stare down to the dirt, my hands clenching my thighs to try and keep from shaking.
"Ava." Suluk is right there, kneeling in the dirt as he places his hands on mine, to gently pry them away. Squeezing my hands gently, a reassuring presence, making me look at him as he looks up to me. Sitting on his haunches in the dirt, trying to be reassuring and a beacon of hope I refused to believe until now, "Ava, you are free, you are now safe and no one will hurt you again. I swear this to you, for as long as I draw breath in this world." His hand slowly lifts up to wipe the tears that streak down my face, making sure I'm alright before he continues. "If you wish to train, even if I do not exactly agree with it, I will be there to lift you when you fall and help you, until you are confident and ready to be on your own. I will be with you every step of the way, and if for some unholy reason you want to join the soldiers at the end of this, then I will support you in that decision also. You may hate me right now, but Ava I will be your friend until you tell me you no longer need me." His words sound so sincere, so true and pure that it makes the tears return with a fury. The silent sob that sticks in my throat hurts everything in my dead heart, it makes it squeeze and ache as if it is trying to come back to life. As if it's trying to reach out to touch the light coming from him.
"Thank you." Is all I manage to wheeze out.
"Besides, who would be dumb enough to not allow women into their ranks of soldiers?! They can withstand more pain than men! They give birth! Plus I've been on the receiving end of their fury, I'm aware of what they're capable of, so utilizing that into an army has great potential." Kieren speaks matter-of-factly, making the both of us laugh. The giggles are welcomed from the serious tone of earlier.