The Reptile's Wrath

8

    Valor had once been considered the optimist of his family. His father and brother had never been the types to do anything other than what they needed to do, especially after his mother had passed away during a dry season.
    He had tried his best to continue to be a light for his family, but after his brother had yelled at him, he had stopped. It was that same year that his father had begun teaching him to fight and hunt. Only four years after that, he had summoned Khehla and everything had changed.
“Valor, are you even listening to me?” Bark’s voice shook him from his thoughts.
“I’m sorry, I wasn’t. What did you say?”
    Bark sighed heavily. “I was asking what you think we should do once we find the summoner.”
“I don’t know.”
“We can’t go back to the port. Our ship was probably either stolen or burned. Who’s to say the kid would even go with us in the first place.” She stopped for a moment, a growl rumbling in her throat.
    Valor had never been one to go into something without a plan, but he couldn’t think of anything to do now. “We’ll just have to see what happens,” he said.
...
    Within four hours they had reached the next town. A small girl ran right up to them, shouting. “You aren’t going to take my brother away! He isn’t the reptile king! He doesn’t want to hurt anyone, I promise!”
    The redcloaks dismounted and Valor opened his mouth to speak, before a woman ran up and grabbed the girl’s shoulders.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “My daughter doesn’t understand--”
"Yes I do! I understand that they're going to take Zane away, and they're going to kill him and I'm never going to see him again! I know what you and father want!"
           Bark crouched down in front of the girl, slipping off her mask. "We aren't going to harm him. We wouldn't dream of it. We're taking him somewhere safe, alright?"
           The girl’s mother began to drag her away. "Please don't start anything here. We don't want trouble." She pointed towards the center of town. "The prison is that way. You can't miss it."
    As soon as they were out of sight, the redcloaks began to move. The dusty streets were completely empty, with no sound but the redcloaks’ footsteps and their horses’ hoofbeats.
    The three of them instinctively bunched together. Valor felt Swift shaking at his back. The woman had been right. The prison was hard to miss. It was the biggest building in the town with smooth stone walls. Valor turned to the others, handing off the reins to Bark who tied them to a nearby post.
“Stay out here,” he said. “I’ll go and get the kid.”
    As he had expected, the pair shook their heads. “No way, Valor,” Bark said. “We’re coming too.”
“Yeah,” Swift said. “We’re not gonna let you go in alone.”
    Valor sighed quietly. “Fine. Come on. Stay behind me, alright?”
    The others nodded and followed him inside of the dim prison. Before they had been inside for three heartbeats, Bark gasped and grabbed Valor’s arm. His eyes adjusted to the darkness a moment later, and he flinched backwards.
    A massive crocodile laid on the ground, staring up at them with hatred in its eyes. It had a rope firmly tied around its snout, but that couldn’t keep it from thrashing around.
“Alita,” a small voice called from the darkness. “Stop it. We don’t hurt people. Not again.”
    The crocodile gave a threatening snort, but stopped thrashing. “Where are you, kid?” Valor called gently. “We’re here to help you.”
“Yeah. That’s what they said too.” The boy’s voice sounded broken. Lifeless. Swift pointed to one of the cells. 
“He’s in there.”
    The crocodile didn’t make a move as the redcloaks stepped around it to get to the cell that Swift had pointed to. The boy inside wasn’t in good shape. He kept his head down, but his hair was much too long, hanging over his eyes. His skin was covered in bruises and small scratches and he looked like he hadn’t eaten in two weeks. Given Stetriol’s reputaion, Valor doubted that he had.
“What’s your name?” Valor asked.
“Reptile King, Devourer, Danger to Erdas, Mistake. Take your pick.”
    Bark put a hand to the bars. “I’ve been called some nasty things too, kid. Doesn’t mean you have to claim those as your name. That just gives them power. What did your family call you.”
“Zane. My name is Zane, but it might as well be Shane. I’m no better than him.”
    The group glanced at each other. This was definitely the right kid. “We’re going to get you out of here, Zane,” Valor said. “Just hold on for a little while.”
“Don’t,” Zane said, finally looking up at them with sad, sunken eyes. “Don’t say that. Don’t give me hope.”
    Yet again, the redcloaks stepped around the crocodile and slipped outside. Swift tugged up his mask and scratched his face, a thoughtful look coming over him.
“Let’s go talk to that girl and her mom. Maybe they can help us.”
    Valor and Bark glanced at each other, then nodded. Neither of them could think of something better.