The Dragons Queen Saga

Part 7: The Haiute

Lazarus spent the afternoon gathering himself. For the first time during the journey he remained silent; no insults, no ramblings, no turmoil. He washed and dressed himself in a single white cloth that tied at his waist and reached his knees. His gnarled feet were hopeless, the nails still unkempt, but at least he was clean. An acrid smell no longer lingered around the man. He sat at the water's edge in wet sand and meditated for several hours before sunset.

Dresden found a place for himself farther away from the beach in a grassy knoll overlooking it all. Lazarus looked small beside the body of water before him. He didn't watch Lazarus too closely, just gazed past him. Dolphins played in the distance. Seagulls were fishing, while the waves and the sunset offered a glorious show of colors to accentuate the gravity of this moment.

His thoughts turned to Lazarus's plan. How deranged he must have become to allow himself to be so thoroughly defiled in this way. It was nearly unthinkable and yet, it was going to work. A shiver spread over him. Not much in this world had elicited such a reaction, but this Dragon, who had to go through such a fate, disturbed Dresden's peace of mind. He had no love for Lazarus. They had been close once, in a different life, another time, when they were young. This realm had not been kind to either of them, but in Lazarus it had destroyed a once beautiful creature. Dresden would never reveal how he perceived this sacrifice. It would make him appear weak and Lazarus might change his mind.

Sunset faded into darkness, stars glittered above them and serenity filled the air. The nagging presence within the bottle grew louder as the moon rose high into the sky. Dresden trudged through sand in his high boots. He came upon Lazarus sitting like a monk facing the ocean.

"It's time," was all he could say.

Lazarus nodded, rose to his feet and embraced Dresden suddenly, which threw him off balance. He stood woodenly, feeling awkward by the affectionate nature of the exchange. When Lazarus released him there were tears in his eyes. "Call them. I'm ready to leave this world."

Dresden pulled a unique whistle made of bone from a small leather pouch. He faced the ocean and blew into it. The sound could not be described. Serenity turned eerie as the waves sucked into the ocean but did not crash back onto the beach. Damp pebbles and the ocean floor stretched too far now, like a wide road into the depths of hell. They both walked towards the receding water at a relaxed pace, side by side. A groove of raw earth, like a runway, led them deeper into the ocean as the water remained parted on both sides of the men. Lazarus began chanting an ancient clerical hymn. Dresden knew it, so he joined in; to voice the guttural language felt good in his body. He had forgotten how good. He had even forgotten the song until it reached his ears again, six hundred years perhaps since the last time he had heard it. He knew every word.

Figures appeared ahead of them standing at the end of the pathway into the water, backed by sharks swimming back and forth against a glassy water barrier. There was no sun left on the horizon above to provide even filtered sunlight. Lazarus stopped singing and fell to his knees before the pair of creatures. Dresden stood, proudly, stoic in his position. He would show no fear, respect or reverence. All he gave was a level of indifference that bordered on rudeness. They didn't show offense. The pair simply focused on Lazarus and had him stand before them. He took in their fishy gaze. Black, watery eyes returned his stare. They wore very little in the way of clothing and their hair was unnaturally dark against white skin. Their heads were bald, richly freckled over their bleached skin. Their appearance sent goosebumps down Lazarus's neck. He intentionally did not gaze at the Haiute below their shoulders. Their fishy bodies gave him the willies. "Thank you for having me." He addressed them humbly.

"State your business with us, Lazarus. We are not interested in events that may take place. Why have you summoned us?"

"I wish to die. I wish to see Dresden thrive, and carry with him a legacy that will help humankind take their place in this young world and," he hesitated but finished, "I wish to see Sariahfina's reign over this realm come to an end."