Tarragon

Chapter Two: Thorn on the Vine

-December 31st, 2023
-Net

"Net?" I heard Mantis say my name. I was half awake, "Someone's shouting your name," Mantis informed me. I was reminded of that hellhole I had, at a point, known as my home.

I got myself to my feet, and walked over to him, crouched down by the window. I scanned outside for them. Sauntering through the bushes was someone I had hoped to never see again. My grandmother, Thorn.

The full list of the crimes she's committed would take up too much space, so here's the important ones: Child labor, too many counts of assassination to count, trafficking of illicit substances, murder, arson, patricide, attacking someone for political gain, child neglect, child abuse, assault and battery, theft, dragon trafficking (human trafficking but with dragons), slavery, and so on. You get the point. She's a well-known black market figure, who's known for kidnapping, assassination, slave trading, making, stealing, and selling illicit substances, (both poisonous and hallucinogenic substances, sometimes both at the same time.) and employing her whole bloodline to work for her.

I watched her search through the bushes, "Neteramanthia, I know you're here. Come out, before I raze this forest!" she shouted.

I turned to Mantis, "She doesn't bluff; I've got to go. It was nice meeting you, Mantis." a tear fell from my eye.

"Wait, why is this so important? Why do you have to go?" Mantis questioned me.

I explained to him the kind of dragon that Thorn was. A liar, a manipulator, a criminal, and an egotistical maniac.

"When she says she's going to do something, she doesn't take no for an answer. The only languages she knows are power and wealth. So, unless you've got a stash of gold somewhere, or a mountain of power behind you, I have to go." I warned him.

He smiled. "I've deflected an attack from Tykranaea, and I'm stronger than when I did that. Sure, it nearly killed me, but... Thorn can't be that strong, right?"

"Mantis, stop. This is not a fight you want to start. She's fought titans and emerged alive. She's gone hand-to-hand with Defrathyst, and emerged in a draw. She might be a quarter of his size, but she's the best tactician of her generation. Fighting her isn't an option. And even if you get it to a draw, she's got leagues of swarms of assassins ready to be sent out to remove you. I have to go."

"Neteramanthia! Do you need a count-down? 60, 59..." Thorn started counting down.

"I have to go. I'll be back if I can, but... that's not likely."

"Please-" Mantis begged me.

"Don't try to stop me. I don't want you to lose any more family than you already have."

I pulled the window open, and flew out.

"15, 14, 13-" Thorn counted.

"I'm right here!" I shouted to her.

"Where have you been? I was worried sick, I thought someone killed you! Leaving without warning like that!" Thorn feigned relief. I knew this was all part of her act.

"I got lost, and then Tykranaea attacked. I've been healing my injuries for a few months." I lied.

"You could have given us a hint as to where you were! Your sector has been lagging behind."

Right. She makes me run a sector of her whole operations. Specifically, trafficking magic amplification elixirs. While you'd think they're completely legal based on the name, they're illegal for one main reason: When you drink it, you get your magic boosted a bit above where your limit currently is, but what they don't tell you is that it locks your potential to that raised amount, and makes you unable to get any more Energy. As well as that, your abilities without the elixir are crippled, forcing you to continuously take more and more of the elixir if you want any chance at fighting. They're fairly popular, despite the insane drawbacks.

We landed a few miles from Mantis's house, and approached an enclosure with walls of vines, thick trees, and poisonous bushes. Thorn opened and shut the vine door quickly, and we walked in. To my left, I saw a few dragons leaning over a war table. I saw three notable pieces. One with with two, huge horns, and white and cyan scales. Tykranaea. Then, a smaller piece with green scales and vines behind his neck. That would be Defrathyst. Then, an even smaller piece, with curling horns, sharp vines with thorns on them behind her neck, light green scales contrasting with dark green underscales, and an extremely long, whip-like tail, with a metal band on the end with spikes. That would be Thorn.

To my right, I saw a few dragons experimenting with chemicals, no doubt producing some never before seen elixir. To their right was a cage containing a few dragons. I felt a pang of guilt, knowing exactly what they were there for. To that cage's right was a pit, with an awful stench coming from it. I looked over to my left, and saw a tent. Thorn turned to it, and ushered me in, staying outside herself. I guessed this to be my Haemorile- My mother's- cabin.

"Neteramanthia." I heard my mother's voice say, disgusted, "You disappoint me with your magic, run away from your duties, and neglect our empire. Give me one reason why I shouldn't execute you right now."