The Spark #2: Nightfall

Chapter 12: Kaya

Hakon led Kaya and Joaph out of the barracks and into the center of the city.

"I'm going to speak to Princess Jayé. If we have an audience with the queen, she'll want to be there. She can probably help us, too. Joaph, take Kaya someplace safe."

"Sure thing," Joaph said. "I know the perfect place."

"Good luck. I'll find you when I'm sure it's safe."

Joaph took a quick right turn, and Hakon went toward the castle.

"So what's your story?" Kaya asked.

"What do you mean?" Joaph replied.

"How do you know Hakon, and why did he convince you not to kill me?"

"I'm Hakon's apprentice. I'm supposed to become a general someday, but so far it hasn't gone so great. He's never liked Councillor Uden, and he's always talking about the way things used to be, the 'lost greatness of the ancient Wind Nation.' I guess we took a turn."

Kaya stopped and stared at him.

"What?" he asked. "We need to move."

"I'm just surprised to hear you say that," Kaya said, following him again.

"Well, I have more experience with the... less glamorous part of the Wind Nation than most."

"What do you mean?"

"We're here, you'll see."

He stopped at a building that looked like a giant silo. He opened the door revealing a large set of platforms throughout the cylinder, reaching all the way to the top. Skinny, dirty dragonlings filled the building.

"Joaph's here!" one called. All the dragonlings gathered around to greet them.

"Sshh!" Joaph said quickly. "We've got to be quiet. I'm sorry I didn't bring anything this time, we're kind of hiding."

"Who're you?" one of the dragonlings asked Kaya.

"My name's Kaya," she said, smiling at the girl.

"She's a Wildspark," Joaph said.

This earned a gasp from all the dragonlings, and Joaph shushed them again.

"What are you doing here?" one asked.

"I'm here to fix the world," Kaya said confidently. "We're gonna get Queen Koris to help everybody."

"Really? Us too? Gosh, that'd be great."

"What do you mean you? What is this place, anyway?"

"This is an orphanage," Joaph said. "And these are my friends."

Kaya instantly felt sympathy for them. "Oh, no. Joaph, you're an orphan too?"

"Not really. Not anymore. I was lucky enough to be adopted."

"By the princess!"

"Really?" Kaya asked.

"Yeah," Joaph said. "When I get older, I want to help the dragonlings in the orphanage, but right now my mom seems more fixed on making me a soldier."

"I understand. I'm actually an orphan too. My friends and I came from the Nursery south of here."

Joaph looked at her a little more positively than he had been.

"So, if you're the prince, Queen Koris will definitely listen to you, right?" Kaya asked.

"I hope so," Joaph replied. "She's never even met me. I don't know if she knows I exist. Or even if she'd care."