The Rose Anthology

Envied Freedom (YaFantasy)

“Father, you promised.”

Silence.

“What will the people say? Should you deny him my hand in marriage?”

“I have not denied anyone of anything. I simply sent him on a quest.”

“A quest? You sent the man to his doom!”

“That thing is no man.”

“You'll never be half the man he is.”

“Enough! I'll hear no more of this. You don't even love the man. I am doing you a favour by getting rid of him. Tiben should have been the one, he's a much better suitor.”

“Tiben is a vain glorious fool. There's nothing interesting about the man, he bores me to no end.”

King Marv pursed his lips. “Your mother agrees with me on this matter. Rose Sinisterra is most certainly dead by now. We should announce it already and move on from him.”

“He's still alive. I know it.”

The King placed both hands gently but firmly on her shoulders. “You have to forget about him, Myn. It's better that way. The war has ended, we don't need him anymore.”

**********

Rose sneezed repeatedly. He hissed in irritation. Someone's been calling my name. Probably Myn. That made him smile. She was pleasant company, and could kiss real nice, plus she was also a princess!

He pursed his lips as he watched the sun set behind the green hills. Birds flew across the orange sky, the wind a lover's caress around their wings. Wild herds of deer ranged the green plains, hopping and grazing without a care in the world.

The war has ended. The strife that claimed ma. Rose watched the animals, the tall grass swaying in the wind, and he envied them their freedom. The war might have ended but he was still doing the king's bidding. One last time, Rose. One last time. But what about Myn?

His quest would come to an end soon. Just beyond the hills lied his query, slumbering or waiting. He wouldn't know for sure. Only one way to find out.

The high collars of his black leather overcoat flapped in the wind against his face. He had his sword strapped across his back, wide-brimmed hat in hand.

Below the hills, along the coast where the waves crashed against rock in their fury, was a jagged gaping hole. Rose took a sharp intake of breath, fixing his hat on his head.

His boots left trails on the wet beach sand, seagulls called after him as he made his way to the cave.

The mouth of the cave had running water, soaking through Rose's boots. He stepped through it unperturbed. The air in the dark enclosure was warm, and rich in sulfur smell, burnt flesh and ash.

He heard it before he saw it. The rhythm of its heart beating while the great beast slept. Not for the first time he asked himself how a dhampir hoped to slay a dragon? Standing before it only did more to reinforce his doubts.

Its bronze scales looked tougher and harder than any pinesteel breastplate he'd ever seen. He doubted his blade, special though it was, would find purchase on it. Not to mention the scales were closely interlocked, leaving no visible gaps between them.

Even from the distance Rose stood to silently observe the slumbering beast, he could feel its hot  breath on his face.

What was I thinking anyway? It's plaguing the countryside villages and towns, the crown had said. I can't slay this thing. Rose glanced at the way from which he had come. I should just leave, go away from here. I'm sure she'll understand or better think me dead.

Just as he had resolved with himself to leave, the great reptilian mass stirred in its slumbering position. Rose froze in his tracks, body quivering with suspense yet he couldn't help feel a small amount of thrill tickle his spine.

Rose levitated off the ground, it was all dry around the dragon. He hovered backwards as he kept his eye on the beast. The waning light from outside was slowly becoming visible as he closed in on his exit.

A great golden reptilian eye flickered open, staring directly at him. It exhaled steam from its nostrils as it rose with a low growl. Shit.

Rose dashed out of the cave into the light. The cave boomed and echoed the dragon's threat, challenge or whatever it was, Rose didn't care. To the nine hells with this.

He shifted into a company bats but he was a second too late. The dragon had emerged from its cave and had seen him shift. It bellowed after him, giving chase on all six limbs.

It took the air as Rose did. Where Rose was a hundred flapping wings, the dragon’s were two tanned wings of a hurricane.

Rose in bat form, felt the heat warning. A gout of flames burst from the dragon’s mouth. It singed a bat or two, eliciting a screech of pain.

The flying beast did not relent, nor did it pause in its barrage of flames. Rose swirled and twisted to avoid its fiery assault. He was getting close to the limit of how long he could maintain a shift to bat form.

He flew his way to a copse of trees, if it were a wyvern that gave him chase, the trees would have done much, his pursuit however was a dragon and it had fires. Worst case scenario it burns down the place and I sneak past it into the long grass as it sets everything ablaze.

He barely entered the shade of the trees when the flames engulfed the upper branches of the first trees.

Rose fell on his face as he was forced to shift back to man form. A branch gave above his head, making a fiery descent, he rolled away gritting hard enough to make his jaws ache.

The burning branch crashed, spraying sparks of flame and ash, igniting the dry broken leaves on the ground.

Rose looked up, the sky was obscured by smoky leaves and branches. Columns of smoke trailed into the sky, the evening wind feeding the fires in the forest. Perfect.

Up ahead, a wall of fire descended in his direction before coming to a stop. Maybe not so perfect, it's trying to box me in.

Rose ran through the fire, he knew he could take it. His clothing, however, was not unscathed. He had to take off his singed soot covered overcoat. His nose picked the scent of burnt hair, and it brought a sigh from his lips.

The heat was overbearing, it was one thing to stand near a fire and another to feel its cremating weight on you. The dragon's fire took one of his arms, shoulder and ribs.

Rose swallowed a pained groan and almost choked with it. See what relaxing gets you… He forced himself up and continued running until he cleared the burning trees, kept running, never looking back. He could hear the dragon's roar in the distance as it continued its fiery campaign above the forest.

Hours later, somewhere far from anywhere, Rose Sinisterra laid on his back, eyes fixed on a star filled night sky. He flexed his burnt hand, it was healing fast, the burnt sinew being replaced and muscles knitted anew. 

I'm sorry, Myn but I'm done.

What does a man do with his newfound freedom? Start a new life, get rich, marry and produce children? That sounds wrong and generic. That sort of life wasn't for Rose and he knew it. There was no thrill in it, at least he didn't see any in it. So what does a half vampire do with his newly found freedom?

He fucks around, is what he does. And fuck around he did.