The Dragon Bond

Chapter 36

           “Rigel! Rigel!” Aurora screamed desperately, her gaze darting across the fast flowing river.

Glimmer too searched, pacing the river bank over and over. Syron and Sunray nudged Goeryx with their snouts, lifting his wings as if to make him fly again. Aurora spotted a log floating across the river and lunged for the water, only to be stopped by Glimmer just before she too could be swallowed.

“He’s gone, he’s gone. They murdered him,” Glimmer said, weeping and hyperventilating.

Aurora threw her sword to the ground in anger, stomping her feet and turning to Syron.

“Kill them! Kill them all! I want them all dead!” she screamed.

But the dragon only looked back at her, unresponsive to her irrational commands.

“They’ve surrendered Aurora. If we murder prisoners without a trial, we are no better than they are,” Symon said as he consoled her.

She squirmed and tried to wriggle free, but he would not allow her to go any further. Even Glimmer defended Symon, insisting that Aurora calm herself before she too would drown. Finally, she calmed down, and collapsed to her knees. Glimmer Knelt beside her, both of them weeping at the rivers edge.

Symon examined Goeryx closely. He prodded the open wounds on his throat and chest, pulling a few arrows from his flesh. He shook his head in denial, frustrated. Sunray looked down at him purring. Symon smiled at him, patting him on the snout.

“I’m sorry Sunray,” he said before turning to Aeryx.

Aurora and Glimmer noticed right away that Aeryx had taken flight without them.

“He’s going after them,” Aurora said as they watched Aeryx fly towards the burnt remains of the camp.

Glimmer nodded.

“I suppose we should too, “ she replied.

Aeryx screeched and hissed and croaked as she landed amongst the few survivors. Quickly, they knelt and raised their hands, but for the women holding their children. Symon dismounted Aeryx, furious and prepared to kill them all right then. But, he would not, but rather left his sword in its sheath.

“Citizens of Syra’s Bay!” he began as Syron and Sunray landed behind him.

“You have all been found guilty of treason”, he continued, “you will now stand trial before the three of us, Symon, Glimmer, and Queen Aurora Rymond. Following this trial, you will hear our judgement.”

He then turned to Aurora and Glimmer. The three of them gathered, whilst the three dragons looked down upon the terrified prisoners.

“That’s the one that attacked us before,” one of the women said, pointing to Sunray.

Glimmer turned sharply, enraged. She motioned for the woman to step forward with intensity. Hesitantly, the young woman did just that.

“What was that you said?” Glimmer barked.

The woman shook her head, now angry as well.

“You’re the one who attacked our home! You killed my husband and my son! You are not worth following!” the woman cried out.

Glimmer gave a sinister grin, then puffed out her chest.

“Well then. I, Glimmer Rymond of the new rebellion, find you guilty of capital treason. For your crime, I sentence you to die,” she said before commanding Sunray to Execute the woman.

A heartbeat later, he showered her with flames before she could react.

Glimmer laughed.

“If anyone else is foolish enough to be disrespectful, come forward,” Glimmer commanded.

But nobody would.

She returned to Aurora and Symon, both of whom were displeased.

“Was an execution necessary?” Aurora asked.

“They murdered two of our brothers and two of our dragons. To have mercy on them would be foolish,” Glimmer replied.

“Only the men took part in the fighting. The women and children only hid. I say any man who has no living children shall pay with his life. The others will be branded an enemy of the new rebellion and shall be prohibited from partaking in the new world,” Aurora suggested.

Symon shook his head.

“They are not our enemy. They have turned against only because of Silo’s selfishness. We fought and killed many of them in battle, but we are no longer in battle. To kill people only for defending their families is not what we stand for. I will have no part in it. I say we brand them enemies and exile them all upon assuming power,” Symon replied.

Glimmer shook her head, but Aurora nodded as she pondered.

“Alright,” she replied, then turning towards the group.

“You have all been found guilty of treason. But we will show you Mercy for your crime. Upon the wars end, all who come from Syra’s Bay will be exiled to the any lands south of our borders. Should any man or woman be caught here beyond that time, they will pay with their lives,” Aurora commanded before returning to Syron.

Without another word, Aurora commanded Syron skyward. Symon followed her, but Glimmer waited a moment, glaring back at the survivors. She shook her head and unsheathed her sword halfway, before returning to Sunray and following the others.

The evening had nearly descended upon them when a massive settlement finally came into view ahead, glowing orange with the suns descent. Symon motioned to Aurora and Glimmer that this was indeed the plains people before he began to descent towards the settlement, with Syron and Sunray close behind him.