Hello everyone! I hope you week has been awesome. I'm between projects as of today. A bit of a pain, but it gives me the chance to work more on my other projects that I have in the pipe lines.
We are reaching a part in Fell Dragon that isn't that great for the younger readers. So, just a head's up to all of you younger readers, it's a downward trend to madness. Strap in, get the tissues ready, I'll looking at you 
“The Serpent and Mammal war is waging a little too close for comfort.” Said the doctor.
“It was your idea to send the experiment out into the wilds.” Said the cloaked figure.
“It is quite able to defend itself, but I am not too keen on more parts of it becoming biomechanical. Not with what I need to do.” The doctor looked through the scans on one of his data pads he held in a gloved hand. “I am so close.”
“Is it important who wins this war?” Asked the cloaked figure.
“Hmm? Oh! Well, that is a good question.” The doctor sat back and pondered the answer for a while.
“I can go get the experiment, but she has learnt a considerable amount in the time that she has been away. How do you intend to keep her placated?”
“Hmm.”
“You haven’t considered that have you?” The figure spat at the doctor.
“It is evolving as it should.”
“That sounds like a cop-out, Doctor.”
“Let me think!”
The cloaked figure stepped from the shadows, and he bared his fangs at the doctor. “I do not have time for this. How far is the younger experiment and the system?”
“Oh, that died weeks ago. Couldn’t take the strain of the surgeries.” The doctor said nonchalantly as he flicked through the data once more. “Too young.”
Fury exploded from the cloaked one who stepped forward, pulled the doctor from his chair and held him close to his face. “Do you think this is a joke? She is literally all I have against…”
“I always knew you had wings under that cloak.” The doctor grinned as he looked up into violet-coloured eyes. “Now the technology you brought me makes so much more sense.”
Disgusted that he had revealed himself the now uncloaked creature threw the doctor aside and said, “If you are not willing to rope in the experiment I will do it myself!”
Though the doctor had landed hard he simply dusted himself off and got to his feet. “I have no qualms about you doing that but…”
“But…”
“Keeping her placate, you are right, that will be a little harder to do. Unless…”
“What?”
“You threaten her in some manner.”
“No one else is meant to be hurt!”
“I have several tons of ash that begs to differ.” The doctor grins.
Hands gripped tightly in frustration the creature stared at the doctor in undisguised hate until he relaxed and added. “I cannot deny that.”
“Are you calm?” Asked the doctor after some time.
“It depends on what you’re going to say next?”
“The whole family is on the planet right now, right? Threaten them.”
“There is a war…”
“And how does it play into your plan? Who do you root for? How could you make a trade to get the experiment back? What can you do because as far as what I have seen I am the one that does all the work here.”
“Is the system ready?”
The doctor sighed. “It is. Despite having the youngster die it did what it needed to do. It is marvellous and ingenious, but I still don’t understand why.”
“If I told you that doctor, you would die of pure terror.”
The doctor seemed to be thinking this over then said. “You bring me the girl and I will do as you wish but…”
“But?”
“Two things.” The doctor held up two fingers. “First, the victors need to be the mammals. If you jeopardize that our deal is off.”
“And the second?”
“I want enough material to make a second system.”
“Why?”
“Those are my conditions. Take them or leave them.”
The creature muttered under his breath. “I will do what I can.”
“Then bring me the girl but try to not interfere in the war.”
Saita had enjoyed the last few months with her father back who seemed very pleased with her improvement as a fighter. What he wasn’t pleased about was that she had taken to brawling in various fighting competitions around the planet and had already made a name for herself.
“You are a princess.” He stressed while they sat at the dinner table. “That is not how a princess behaves!”
“You want me to be a soldier. That isn’t how a princess behaves.” She countered.
Karesh blinked a few times while Aleux said under his breath. “And she has a lip on her now.”
“Oh, let her be.” Said Myla as she pushed her wine glass away from herself, not having touched it at all. “Brawling is hardly the worst of things she could be doing.”
“She could be…” Started Astec.
“No!” Karesh interrupted him in mid-sentence. “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Just come watch one brawl Dad.” Saita exclaimed as she slammed a fork down on the table. “Just one. I’m good! No one just lets me win.”
“I suppose you are the one I have to blame for this.” Karesh looked to Doran.
“If you want to blame someone then blame Jarah. He was the one who used the word and she got curious. I didn’t know about it until she brought a medal home from her first fight. Surprised the castle guard didn’t try to stop her.” Said Doran.
“Who said they didn’t?” Saita grinned.
“These are strange times.” Said Myla as she set a hand on her husband’s. “Why can a princess not be a brawler?”
“My parents would be rolling in their graves.” Karesh groaned.
“Please!” Begged Saita. “There is a fight in two days. No powers are allowed. Pure strength.”
“Why are you not competing?” Karesh enquired of Astec.
“Have you seen your daughter fight? No thank you. I do not compete in her grouping.” he laughed.
“One fight. I will look at one fight but then it’s done Saita. Doran will return with me to the fronts, and it will be your job to protect this planet with Astec. Am I clear?”
“Yes…” she mumbled though Karesh was sure she would still be competing despite his order.
“Now, can we enjoy a family meal without any more interruptions?”
“Your Majesty?” a servant entered the dining room.
“Oh, what now!” he bellowed.
“There seems to be an urgent summoning that has asked for both you and the queen. I was sent to collect you.”
“Damn it,” swore Karesh. “Fine.”
He pushed his chair out with frustration and got to his feet. Myla aimed to follow him, and he gently placed a hand on her shoulder and said. “I will deal with this. Finish the meal. I shouldn’t be too long.”
He gave half a smile and said softly. “I almost wish I didn’t need to leave again after what you have told me but…”
“Your guest is waiting, go see to them.” the Queen laughed.
Doran got to his feet and said. “I’ll join you.”
It wasn’t an offer. Karesh nodded his head and they left together. Saita frowned and muttered. “Not gonna stop me brawling.”
“He is worried about you dear.” Said Myla as she picked at her food with disinterest. “You are his only daughter.”
“He wants me to fight but not brawl.” Saita used her hands to indicate two things in front of her. “What is the difference?”
“One is noble and for the race.” Astec got to his feet and sarcastically saluted. “The other is best reserved for drunken bar fights.”
Aleux laughed and Myla had to swallow a smile, but Saita wasn’t having it.
“He just doesn’t want me to do it. He never mentioned anything when you said you weren’t fighting.”
“That is because I am not a princess, Princess.” he half mocked.
“Enough you two,” said Myla as she finally lay her fork down. “Either we are having a pleasant lunch, or we are fighting, we can’t do both.”
Aleux looked at his mother and asked. “Are you okay? You have barely eaten.”
“Not too hungry right now.”
He spied the full wine glass and frowned. “Not thirsty either it would seem.”
“The wine is sour.” Myla sighed. “I can’t wait for the imports to start improving.”
Another servant entered the dining hall. “My Queen, you are needed.”
The hair on the back of Saita’s neck rose and she was quickly on her feet to stand before the servant. “The King has already left why do you seek the Queen?”
“My Queen, you are needed.” The servant repeated blankly.
“Saita?” Myla looked to her daughter who walked circles around the servant.
“Wrong.” She muttered. “Wrong.”
Astec, having realised months ago that Saita had a strange instinct had learned early on to trust her. He went to stand by the Queen and would not let her leave her seat.
“Saita?” asked Aleux.
“No bowing. Smells like a machine.” She wrinkled her nose. “Eyes are not right.”
Aleux slowly got up and approached the servant. He knew the man; he had been here just moments ago and had been with the family for years. Yet as he stood before Aleux now he didn’t recognise the man. His eyes were blank, and his jaw was somewhat slack. He was about to step closer when the servant’s arm shot out. He blinked; Saita reacted. She grabbed the arm and twisted it until a knife fell to the ground with a clink.
Myla’s eyes grew wide. Before she got to her feet Saita had slammed the heel of her hand into the underside of the man’s chin. He rocketed from his feet and was unconscious as he landed on the floor.
“Napkins!” Said Saita sharply as she spun him around and gathered his hands in the small of his back.
Aleux complied and Saita tied the unconscious man’s hands as tightly as she could.
“What is…”
“Astec.” Saita looked up at him.
“I will look in the corridor.” He nodded his head as he hurried past her.
Myla did not miss that Saita grabbed his hand for a moment before allowing him to pass. Even with seeing what had confirmed her suspicions of their feelings she was not going to just sit there and do nothing. She got to her feet.
“Mom, he is not right. Come tell me what is wrong.” Said Saita sternly.
Aleux kicked the knife away as his mother came to kneel next to the man. She laid her hands on his back. He was alive, barely hurt but would likely have a concussion. Yet, there was something. Something was alien about him. He was the servant that had always been with them but there was something.
“Look for an injection mark.” She said suddenly to Aleux.
Saita stepped back and went to stand at the dining room door keeping an eye out for Astec. Knowing they were safe for the time being Aleux and Myla searched for a possible injection site.
“Under his tongue.” Said Saita suddenly.
Myla looked up at her to see the girl grinning. “I haven’t spent this much time with you to not know a little about your ability.”
Following the girl’s instructions, they eventually found a small blood blister under his tongue. Myla was almost a hundred percent sure of what was going on.
“Gag him.” She told Aleux.
She went to stand next to Saita and whispered. “You said you smelt machine. You are right. Nanobots. He was injected with them but how I am not sure.”
“Forcibly. Likely had his jaw held open.” She said, “Where is Astec!”
As if on cue the started teenager ran back into the dining room and slammed the doors closed before barring them. Startled Saita was about to ask him what was going on when he started searching the walls of the dining room.
“Astec?”
“Aunt Myla where is it?” He demanded. “Where is the hidden door?”
Startled, Myla simply said. “The back of the fireplace.”
“Astec what is going on!?” Demanded Saita.
“Tall, bat-like wings, pointed ears, purple hair.” That was all he blurted as he reached the fireplace to try and find the hidden door. “Issuing orders to find…”
He grunted and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Damn it.”
He flung a dart aside and added. “Shit.”
He held the back of his neck and grimaced. “Go. I don’t know how long…”
Saita grabbed the back of his head and slammed it into the wall next to the fireplace. It only took one blow to knock the boy unconscious. She didn’t waste time tying him up. Instead, she pulled the hidden door open and simply said. “Go.”
No one asked her any questions as they ran into the smaller corridor. Saita looked down at Astec, grimaced and said. “Sorry.”
She then pulled the door closed behind them.
Edzeeker is making his move, and before of you ask, yes, this is ramping up toward the end of book one! Don't despair though, there is more where this came from as I am still working on the books.
But until next week, I will leave you with this update, and pleasant wishes for the weekend! See you all on Tuesday!
Reader's List
If you have missed any of the parts, you can find them here:
Fell Dragon Parts
| Part 1| Part 2|
| Part 3| Part 4|
| Part 5| Part 6|
| Part 7| Part 8|
| Part 9| Part 10|
|Part 11||Part 12|
|Part 13|Part 14|
|Part 15|Part 16|
|Part 17|Part 18|
|Part 19 - You are Here|Part 20 - Updated on Tuesday|