Legacy's Prince

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Truth

"Cai? Mamon?" Dezden calls as I rush out of Ardan's Tower, but I don't stop.

Anastazie. She was there! That's where I've seen her! She saw what happened! She must know something about dragons. Something about what really happened all those centuries ago.

Something about me.

Something about my ancestors.

My hands tremble as I step out into the cool, night air. I don't know where I'm going, I'm just wandering aimlessly about the school grounds, raking at my hair, trying to stop my head spinning with too much information.

There you are.

I look up and see Zaharias flying over me.

"Now you show up!" I shout, releasing some of the trembling from my body.

Flying still takes time. I got here as soon as I could. Zahairas grumbles as he lands next to me. What do you want now?

"Take me to your cavern," I demand, trying to keep my voice calm and even.

What? Zahairas chortles, almost sounding surprised.

"Please. Take me there," I beg.

Why?

"Just do it."

Why?

"Zaharias, please. Just bring me there," I groan, my shaking returning.

You've already been there once, why do you need to go again?

"Because I need to talk to someone!"

You can only talk to me, idiot. What makes you think you can talk to another dragon?

"Then you'll talk for me."

Says who?

"Zaharias! Please!" I all but scream. "I need to talk to your elder!"

The Elder? Zahairas lowers his head, narrowing his red eyes at me. Why?

"I just... Zaharias, please!" Tears begin falling. I don't know why, but I can't stop them. "Zaharias just... please. Let me see him."

Alright. Alright. Stop sniffling and climb on. Zaharias grumbles and I climb on. We fly through the night sky, the wind drying my tears as I hold on. Zaharais says nothing. Neither do I. Through the silence we glide through the sky and pass over the ruins.

The place where many, like Fallow, took their last breaths. Fighting they tried to warn the world of what was to come. She and who knows how many others snuffed out by a beast of a king and a band of outlaws. Her efforts, noble, but in vain.

We fly onward diving through the Red Forest, and into the cavern's mouth. I grip tighter onto Zahairas' horns as we dip down, sideways, and back up again. My heart pounds as Zahairas makes the twisting trip through the tunnels, my mind racing to try and figure out what I'm going to do when we arrive.

Zaharias lands, touching down to the ground. I jump off and rush inside, deeper inside with no plan as to what I'm about to do. The interior is darker than night. I cannot see a thing, but I keep running. Something long blocks my path, tripping me and sending me crashing to the cold ground. A growl erupts from the dark, and a white flame bursts to life. A blue dragon growls as it drags its tail away from me.

Idiot. Zaharias sighs as he draws closer, a flame in his mouth. Several other flames ignite around me. Their heat, unbearable the first time I came here, now hardly fazes me. The cavern grows brighter and brighter as more and more dragons awake and turn to me. I carefully tiptoe amongst them, making sure to not step on any more tails as I search amongst them.