DragonTribes #1: RiverTribe

Chapter 12: Blister and Dyvahn

Alicia yelled at Francis as he approached, "Leave me alone!"

"Listen, you don't stay here the rest of the year, someone takes you." Francis said, holding up the keys to her shackles.

I don't want to go anywhere near Rei. He's going to kill everyone. Alicia stood still and let Francis unlock her bracers and anklets. Francis nodded and Alicia ran out of the cell onto the sand of the Arena. Blood decorated the tan floor.

Rei stared at Alicia for a short while then spoke, "Who would like to take and train Alicia for the next Red Moon?"

The boy who had waved at her immediately waved his hands in the air, "I have 15 trade papers!"

A man shouted from the other side of the Arena, "20!"

They're auctioning me off. Alicia crossed her arms and stared at the boy. He shuffled the paper in his hands, his lips moving as he counted.

"24!" The boy raised his money to the air with a grin.

"30." The man stared at the boy in the eyes.
Alicia studied the man. She realized he was the drunkard that got her into this mess. In one hand he held his half finished bottle of berry juice.

Alicia turned to the boy. Have more money than him, please. The boy glanced away from Alicia's stare and shook his head.

"Very well, Alicia is sold for 30 trade papers." Rei spoke.

The boy turned and left the Arena. Alicia didn't dare look at Rei or the man. She heard a smashing of glass. She turned to see Rei had grabbed the glass from the man and smashed it on the wall of the Arena.

"Go get the boy." Rei said to a guard.

What happened? The boy came running back into the Arena. He looked at Alicia then to Rei.

"How much money do you have?" Rei asked the boy.

The boy pulled his money from his pocket, "25 trade papers, Chieftan Rei."

"The man didn't even have 20 papers." Rei snorted and snatched the money from the boy.

The boy watched Rei take some papers from his stash then hand some back. Rei nodded then walked out the Arena.

Alicia's heart leaped with joy. The boy had a huge grin on his face. He stretched his arm as far as could down the wall of the Arena. Alicia walked forward joyfully, then paused. How could I just instantly trust this boy? After all he's part of the same tribe as all the others who set foot in here. The boy's grin slowly fell into a frown.

He tried to extend his arm farther, "What's wrong?"

Alicia crossed her arms, "How do I know you're not going to harm me?"

The boy mimicked her crossed arms, "You really dont."

Alicia sighed, her feet still planted in the sand. The boy shrugged and turned to leave.

Alicia ran to the wall, "Wait!"

The boy paused. Alicia extended her arm. He half-grinned half-smirked and put his hand out. Alicia jumped and grabbed his hand. He strained to pull her up. Alicia tried to help by using her feet to climb up the wall. Eventually, Alicia got over the wall and onto the front row.

The boy held his hand out for a handshake, "I'm Dyvahn, it's nice to meet you Alicia."

Alicia shook his hand, " Thanks for well, uh- buying me, Dyvahn."

Dyvahn nodded and led her out of the Arena. He glanced to the rising sun. Then pulled a dragon horn from his back pocket. It was hollow. He blew into the smaller end, a deeper sound produced from the other end. A roar answered to the call. A FireDragon landed in front of them. Its scales were a deep red. It sniffed Dyvahn then turned to Alicia and grunted.