On today's wide array of pet pictures we have baby Princess, before she became a grouch hog. Although bugger, she is definitely still cute.
I hope the beginning of the week is finding all of you well. I know I have had a rough weekend trying to finish a project on time to pick up another short one for my favourite client. Having completed two books for him already, I couldn't exactly tell him no. Especially when my next available slot is only mid June. Busy, busy. busy. Anyway, luckily, Fell Dragon is written well in advance, so I can continue to keep you all updated twice a week! I hope you all enjoy this update, as it introduces one of the most important characters Saita will meet.
Though Myla had tried to explain to Saita what was happening, she didn’t really understand for at least another month as her vocabulary developed. Once everything had finally fallen into place in Saita’s mind she had panicked and tried to explain to the royal family why she could not let them join her to their family. However, her developing words fell on deaf ears. The more anxiety the girl felt the more her powers manifested beyond her control. During this time, Doran and Meedus were charged with her training whilst Beatrice continued her education, and Jarah became her personal physician.
Aleux, now having to remain on the planet, continued his education via correspondence whilst he helped with his new sister’s education. He loved watching her grow but was concerned about her lack of control over her abilities. Most children were taught early in their development to control their powers, but Saita had never been trained and frankly, the powers scared her. He would often watch Doran try to engage Saita in friendly combat but she shied away from it and sometimes even hid from him, only coming out of hiding when Aleux called for her.
Myla was only too thrilled to have another child to dote upon but shared the same concern as Aleux and Doran. No amount of coaxing would get Saita to use her abilities. Karesh, on the other hand, short of temper, was not going to give her the chance to grow into her abilities slowly. As soon as her broken arm had healed enough to have the cast removed, about a month with her increased healing ability, he had taken her up into the mountain. His advisors had begged him to reconsider, but he dismissed them by saying that he would take Doran and a handful of soldiers with him.
He had always loved camping as a child and he had planned to be in the mountains for about a week. Myla was against the trip as the Black Scale was yet to be caught, but Karesh would hear nothing of her arguments and continued to make plans. Eventually, the trip was planned, and Saita once more found herself in the clearing where she had been discovered. She didn’t know how to feel. The last few weeks had been confusing to her. This family of strangers had taken her in for no other reason other than they wanted to return the favour of her saving the lives of Karesh and Aleux. She just didn’t understand any of it. Yet, the urge to run had finally dissipated.
“Saita let’s go for a walk.” Said Karesh as soon as they had arrived.
Karesh still scared her a little. He was loud and had a very short temper. He was the only one of the strange family that was yet to speak to her about the strange arrangement she had found herself in.
“Okay.”
“Karesh?” Doran made to follow, but the King stopped him.
“We need to talk. Follow if you must but at a distance, and don’t interfere.” Karesh beckoned to her. “Come.”
Saita followed closely. The only memories of this place were of fear and pain, and she did not want to be left alone. Especially since the night was falling now.
“Humans are an ancient race, Saita. They have seen the rise and fall of empires through thousands of years of struggles and hardships.” Said Karesh as he walked. “Royal lines have been formed, dissolved, and brought back together during this time. My line is of the most ancient, yet here I sit on one of the most backwater planets of my empire. Do you know why?”
“I know a little. Beatrice is teaching me to read, but the history is long.”
“What do you know?”
“Humans and Lizards have fought for centuries for control of the Life planet, the one which both species came from. Humans bred faster, stronger and were able to hold onto the planet longer.”
“Go on.”
“Lizards and humans don’t share well. Big war, humans won and banished the Lizards from the Life planet.”
“The Lizards were but one species removed from the planet but basically yes.”
“Lizards never forgot and tried to get a foothold again. Killed...Natus, made you run.”
Karesh growled under his breath, but what she said was true; he had run. “I did, yes. Left many subjects back on the planet. I was a coward.”
He had never admitted that before.
“Is wanting to live make you a coward?” She asked.
He paused in his walking to look at her confused face, he couldn’t help but smile a little. “I don’t know, but it made me feel like one.”
“More family up there?” She asked, pointing to the gathering dusk.
“Yes. My sister’s family is still up there; may she rest in peace.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Point is.” He cleared his throat. “Though we are a widespread race, there is a ruling family who is losing the faith of the people due to what happened. One day I must return and take the planet back.”
“Why haven’t you. You have a fine son.”
“Myla has explained this to you. I heard her. Aleux is for her line of royalty. Natus was mine. If I die the royal line is gone.”
“Many royals, very confusing.” She admitted.
“In the past, there were four main royal families. Myla is from one, I am from another, we have lost two to the Lizards.”
“Is that why they attack Aleux?”
“Your critical thinking is growing; no wonder Myla is so proud of you.” He smiled as he continued walking. “Perhaps, perhaps not. All I know is that the Lizards want my line dead. They will keep trying to kill it until they succeed one day.”
“Why are there no more sons?”
“You know how to go straight for those awkward questions, don't you?” Laughed Karesh. “Sons are not as important as what they were in the past, Saita.”
“Then why no more children? Aleux is almost eight.”
He knew he should be upset by her personal questions, but strangely he didn’t mind it.
“Aleux was a difficult pregnancy for Myla. No more children for us.”
“Oh. Do you want more?”
“We have you.” He smiled at her.
“It is wrong.” Saita said. “I am not normal! I am dangerous”
“You keep saying that, but I am yet to see it for myself.” Karesh indicated that he wanted her to stand where she was while he moved a few paces away.
“I can’t be here.”
“Why?” He started to circle her.
He watched as she clenched her hands and jaw. “I don’t remember but I ran for a reason.”
“Do you want to keep running?”
“No.”
“Then why not stay with my family?”
“I am not like you.”
“Saita, the human race is a mix of religions, skin colours and cultures, no one is like each other.” He said softly.
“But am I human?” She asked, tears of frustration coming to her eyes.
“You are.”
“Don’t lie to me! It is only the language I don’t know. I am not stupid!” She yelled at him. “Don’t treat me like I am.”
“Then what are you, Saita? Tell me, in your own words, what you are.”
“A monster.”
Karesh muttered his incantation, and bright blue flames came to his hands. He didn’t wait for Saita to react before he jumped at her with the flames extended. If he had learned anything about her from those videos she would react; however, she stood perfectly still. The flames were just about at her nose, but she stayed perfectly still.
“Monsters don’t allow themselves to be attacked without retaliating.” Said Karesh as he pulled back. “Monsters don’t save foolish kings and their children. Monsters don’t run away. You, Saita, are a little girl, terrified, abused and God knows what else. You are human.”
“But…”
“Are you scared?” He mimed her tears as they trickled down her face.
“No! Yes! I don’t know.” She wiped at her face. “I am confused.”
“Aleux is like his mother, a scholar. Though he inherited my manifestation he is not a fighter and will likely never be one if his mother has her way but you, you are a fighter. You faced a Lizard with your bare hands! I need a fighter.”
“Doran can fight.”
He sighed heavily, then said. “Spar with me, Saita. I am not good with words, but my lifeforce can show…”
“Fight I can do, but this?” She copied his blue flame in her right hand. “This is not me. I don’t have the words to explain.”
“Show me.” he took a few paces back and rolled his shoulders. “Show me how you fight.”
Doran had allowed the King to leave without an escort. Karesh was planning something, and he could not interfere in it. He wasn’t the only one who jumped when the roar of the fire was heard, and the forest illuminated for a few seconds before it died down. He heard one of the soldiers sigh heavily and then looked at him. It was the same man that had shot Saita.
“And that?” Doran asked him.
“I can’t protect him if he does stupid shit like this, but since he named the girl his heir it doesn’t really matter if she kills him.”
Several soldiers snorted, and even Doran chuckled a little.
“Then again.” Said the soldier. “I haven’t seen Karesh smile so much since Aleux’s birth. He must like this girl. Good for him. Fresh blood to the royal line is always good.”
Doran was a little surprised by the comment, but it did please him. He looked to where the flames had erupted and wondered if he should go investigate as it was getting dark now. He was about to send a soldier when he noticed two lights heading towards them. At first, he was rather pleased, but that changed to mild annoyance when he noted the disarray the two royals appeared to be in. Each carried a small flame to light their way.
“Your Majesty...Majesties, what…”
“She may not remember being taught how to fight, but her body does.”
Karesh wiped at a bloody nose. “Thought I could get through but did not see that right hook.”
Saita seemed a little more singed but seemed somewhat less injured. She was beaming from ear to ear as if she had been told there would be an endless supply of food waiting for her.
“Leapt through the flames and clouted me right in the face.” Karesh laughed.
“Leapt through the flame?” Doran frowned. “You two fought? WHY!”
“To prove something.” Saita sat down and inspected her hair.
“To prove what?”
“Doran you will take over her training completely. If you think she could benefit from others training her you are welcome to use my seal to get them to come to the planet. I know starvation takes a lot of someone so the moment she is given a clean bill of health from Jarah, have her work together with the soldiers.”
“Your Majesty!” Yelled the soldier as he got to his feet. “We are warriors! Not glorified babysitters. I understand and respect that you want an heir, but I will not have my men play games with a child!”
“What is your name?” The King asked.
“Devin.” The soldier stood proud, even though he knew he had messed up.
“This child shows a skill that she cannot find in her memory. You will find that she is quite a handful, even for you.”
“I’d like to see that.”
Doran looked him in the face and muttered. “Mistake Captain.”
“No, she is a child. Until I see something more than a bloody nose on my King I will not be swayed.”
“Very well.” Karesh set a hand on Saita’s head. “Saita, what is his manifestation?”
“Light that he can concentrate.” Saita held up her left hand and showed the scar in the palm of her hand. “I think Jarah called it a laser?”
Devin smirked. “She saw me shoot her, an easy guess.”
“The man next to you uses what most think is water, but it’s not. He can lower temperature by man...man...manipu…” Saita got stuck on the word but shook her head and continued. “Changing the pressure of the air around him. With enough water in the air, he can use water to physically attack someone.”
Doran watched the man next to Devin pale before saying. “I have never told anyone. How…”
“Lucky guess.” Said Devin. “Must have seen him practising.”
“Doran has two manifestations…” she started before Doran waved his hands to stop her.
“You made your point, don’t give all our secrets away.” He laughed. “So then, flame, force and what is this? A sixth sense?”
“The girl is talented.” The man that had had his power outed got to his feet. “Your Majesty, if the captain won’t train her, I’ll take on the responsibility. No one, in my thirty years of service to your family, has someone ever been able to guess my exact manifestation.”
“And what do they call you?” Asked the King.
“Gaylum, Your Majesty.” The man grinned and continued. “But I won’t make it easy on her. My manifestation is used to deal with those that use fire and heat.”
Gaylum got to his feet. He was by no means a young man, but he still had a spring in his step. His hair was shaved close to his head so telling his hair colour was impossible. The most noticeable feature of the man was a scar on his left cheek that looked like something that exploded out of his mouth, and whilst it had healed well, it was not a pretty sight. He was of medium build and stood tall.
“I want to learn.” Said Saita with a grin as she dusted soot and singed hair from her head. “Can’t not know.”
“Rightfully so.” Karesh nodded his head. “It is also only fair to warn you that she doesn’t need incantations to make her abilities work.”
“I’ve learnt a few things in my time. Humans are not the only species with abilities like this. Saita, was it?”
She nodded her head.
“I am aware that you are learning the language, and I will not interfere with your education, but once your lessons are done, we can work on control first, and then we can go from there. Then I suppose the King will need to teach you about the line you have been brought into.” Gaylum squatted down in front of Saita.
“In due time, but for now, the basics need to be covered. Our main language and control. We will build on that.”
Gaylum grinned and petted the top of Saita’s head. “Don’t expect me to call you Your Majesty while we train, okay?”
“She won’t even call me Father, so I doubt she will be phased by not getting the title.” grinned Karesh.
“You failed.”
“I know.”
“And your team?”
“Discovered and killed.”
There was silence from the darkened screen, which slowly started to fill the room with at first a soft hiss that raised in pitch until the one watching it started to cringe.
“Discovered? Discovered!? An attack at a spaceport was an acceptable inevitability we were willing to risk, but your whole team was DISCOVERED!”
“Yelling does nothing about the situation we are in.”
“We? WE? There is no we. You are an assassin that failed in your mission. We are distancing ourselves from this incident.”
“Naturally, I understand that, but that is not what I mean. I am still here; the King and his son still live…”
“You will do nothing. You are nothing. Stay. Go. We don’t care. You have failed in your duty as an assassin and a son!”
“Naturally, Father…”
“I told you to never call me that!” the voice was now so high pitched that claws down a chalkboard would have been a blessing.
The assassin sighed and then added. “Yes, Your Majesty. Then this is farewell then?”
“Oh no! You don’t get to turn your back on this mess so easily. We need a scapegoat, and you are it. Your name and heritage will be released.”
The assassin thought this over for a few minutes and shrugged his shoulders. “I suspected it so much. The price on my head?”
“More than what is on the head of the brat and his father.”
“And if I were to trade information?” The assassin flicked a forked tongue out at the screen.
This time the hiss from the screen was replaced by a squeal of anger. “You dare threaten me? Your own father?”
“You just said not to call you that.”
“I should have stomped on your neck the day you crawled from your egg you tailless-freak.”
“Yet here I am doing the dirty work of the Black Scales as I have always done Father. Seems that we are at an impasse.”
“We will talk again.” The screen cut out.
“Sure.” Said the assassin, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The black-scaled Lizard rubbed at a cut along his forearm that he had hastily stitched and wrapped after his escape. He did not doubt that his father would throw him to the furious humans the moment he had a chance. Though he had always hated Karesh he was not willing to anger Myla as so much of the human-technology used by the Lizards came from this planet. Throwing his only son at the rabid humans was the best he could do without risking an all-out war with them.
“Lord Anguis, true to your name.”
The assassin had been hiding for several weeks while hoping against hope that he would be removed from this planet. However, speaking to his father now he realised that this had truly been false hope. He would need to find another way off this human planet which he knew was not going to be easy.
“But then again…”
He typed a few words into the computer before him and pulled up the picture of the girl that had nearly mauled him. He had been lucky to escape with just a cut across his right forearm. He didn’t doubt for a moment that had she gotten close to his throat, she would have torn right into it.
“The King and Queen are pleased to announce the official adoption of Saita into the Royal family.” he read to no one in particular. “The coronation of the new Princess will take place during the mid-Summer celebrations, and all are invited.”
He looked over to where a table held all the weapons of his trade, and he considered his options. He could attempt another attack on the Royal family. With there being an influx of people, he would be able to travel around in disguise but then again was it worth it? The fight between the humans and the Lizards was an ancient one, and he did not really care for it. He never had. He walked to the weapons and ran his scaled hands lovingly over the blades and guns. Each in turn lit up with soft blue energy before dulling back to the black metal it had been before he touched it.
“On the other hand,” He mused to himself. “With Father dearest likely to throw me under the bus, this is the perfect time to rather go into business for myself. I have the weapons, and they are genetically coded to no one else, so they are of no use to anyone whether I am dead or not.”
Using one of his claws, he scratched at his jaw and grinned. “Well then, wouldn’t Mother be proud. A true businessman. Now to just get off this planet before I am discovered.”
He grinned. “It seems that not only have you granted me a new scar Princess Saita, but you have also become my salvation.”
He looked back to the screen. “How best to piss off my father? Hmm…”
And that brings us to the end of today's update. The name of the assassin will be revealed later, so keep coming back for the updates! Also, welcome to all the new readers who have decided to join the adventures of Fell Dragon. Welcome back to those who are long-time followers, I write for you!
Remember that I don't mind you commenting or reaching out. I love interacting with readers.
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 - You are Here|
| Part 9 - Updated on Friday|