Magic in the Mist

Chapter Fourteen

     'W-what?' Hazel said, surprise pulsing through her body. 'But—how?'

'The Tempestes has only traveled to the human islands once, but it still caused destruction. . . it's likely that the Tempestes could have killed your mother. . . that would explain why you can hear her when you're holding a force field up.'

'You're right,' Hazel said, a pulse of anger running through her at the thought of that wretched. . . thing taking her mother's life.

'But besides that, you should probably go. I imagine Queen Raya won't be happy if you're gone for any longer.' Asha said, looking to the sun, which was close to sinking below the horizon. 'But if you ever need anything, feel free to come.'

'What about the soup?' Hazel asked, looking at the pot of her mother's soup.

'WindTribe will have it,' Asha said with a warm smile. 'And thank you for teaching me this new type of food.'

Hazel nodded, whistling for Orian. In only a couple of seconds, the huge pegasus appeared and touched down on the ground, Hazel's sword hilt attached to the saddle strings on the saddle.

'Thank you so much for your hospitality,' Hazel said as she mounted Orian, grabbing his reins firmly.

'My pleasure,' Asha said, nodding to her as Hazel spurred Orian and they lifted off into the sky.

As Hazel flew, she let go of the reins and slipped her feet out of the stirrups, letting them free as Orian glided smoothly through the sky. Hazel looked towards the LavaTribe mountains and gasped as she saw dragons appearing from the mountain range. Hazel quickly grabbed for the reins and slipped her feet back into the stirrups as the dragons flew closer. They were small dragons, about the size of Orian, but they were still dangerous.

Hazel could see LavaTribe warriors equipped with throwing daggers riding the dragons. Cursing, Hazel flicked her hand and deep orange magic shot from her hands, shooting a flame towards the elves. The dragons slowed, avoiding the magic, giving Hazel time to dive down and miss the elves' daggers. Hazel urged Orian faster, sighing in relief as she saw the MoonTribe village come into view. She dove down to a field of wheat and hid amongst the cover of the crop as the LavaTribe dragons roared above her.

Only once they had finally given up and flew away was when Hazel looked up to check if they were really gone. Since she couldn't see anything, Hazel dismounted Orian and held onto his get down rope, leading him through the field.

'Over here!' Myerano, a warrior, called as Hazel heard feet pattering towards her.

Hazel sighed in relief as she saw Myerano, Japhim, Seridia, all warriors, and Rolph, a farmer, bursting through the wheat. They all looked stunned to see her, all except Rolph, who looked partially annoyed that a pegasus was in his wheat field.

'Japhim, take Orian. Hazel, you're coming with us.' Myerano said. Japhim nodded, taking the get down rope from Hazel and mounting the pegasus, flying out of the field as Myerano led Hazel and Seridia out of the field as Rolph muttered insults under his breath.

When the elves and Hazel finally broke out of the wheat field, Myerano led them through the village and to Queen Raya's castle, which was the last place Hazel wanted to be right now. Myerano opened the doors, walking briskly down the hall to where Queen Raya was sitting on her throne, Seridia at his side with Hazel taking the lead.

'Queen Raya,' Myerano said, and they all bowed to her. 'Uhm. . .we saw a LavaTribe patrol following something that dove into Rolph's wheat field. We followed it, and. . .' Myerano moved aside, revealing Hazel who avoided Queen Raya's gaze.

'Go,' Queen Raya said harshly, and Myerano and Seridia bowed and left without question. Hazel looked at her feet as Queen Raya walked towards her, her footsteps echoing on the hard marble ground. 'You left in the night,' Queen Raya hissed. 'Sword gone, no note! I checked the stables, maybe Thalia knew of your escaping, but she was as surprised as I was to see Orian gone!'

'I—'

'Look at me while you speak!' Queen Raya roared.

Hazel flinched before slowly raising her gaze to look at Queen Raya. She looked furious. Her face was red with anger, her fists balled, and her eyes shone with burning anger.

'I. . . I had a dream about WindTribe—the Tempestes was coming for them I-I had to save them!' Hazel said, her hands beginning to shake as she held magic from flowing out of her hands.

'WindTribe isn't your problem!' Queen Raya said. 'We are your priority, Hazel!'

'Oh, yeah?' Hazel said, fury beginning to surge through her body. 'Since when were you my priority?'

'Since Orian brought you here! Since we gave you hospitality! Since we saved you from bleeding out!'

'Orian crashed onto my roof and brought me here against my will! I saved you and MoonTribe from the Tempestes on my second day here! And ever since, you've been forcing me to go on dangerous journeys with little knowledge, one of which was what caused me to be injured!'

'You have no right to talk to me that way!' Queen Raya said in outrage.

Hazel felt a twinge of triumph at Queen Raya's words, her dad would always say that when he had lost the argument.

'Yes, I do!' Hazel retorted. 'I have every right to say what I want when I want. I have every right to leave to save someone else, someone who actually wants me there!'

'I don't know what you and you—humans—' Queen Raya said with much distaste; 'are taught, but here we respect our leaders!'

'I might as well be your leader! I'm way stronger than you!' Hazel spat.

Then, as quick as a snake, Queen Raya pulled a dagger from nowhere and pointed it squarely at Hazel's throat. Hazel went silent, eyeing the dagger intently.

'Now look who's the leader now,' Queen Raya said with slight pleasure in her voice.

Hazel glared at the queen, noticing that the emblem on her dagger belonged to LavaTribe. 'Go to your room.' Queen Raya said, lowering her dagger. Hazel didn't argue and headed to her room, leaving Queen Raya alone in the throne room.

When Hazel reached her room, she sighed as she flopped down on her bed, feeling utterly defeated. All she had done was go to help another Tribe. Is that so bad? Was making another Tribe that wasn't MoonTribe a priority really bad enough to lock Hazel in her room? All she wanted to do was to see her dad.

Just then, Hazel heard a knock on her window and turned to see Thalia here, hovering as though she was floating in mid-air. Hazel raced over to the window, opening it to see Thalia was riding Orian.

'Well, what are you waiting for? Get on!'