Rune Keeper

The Faerie Queen Rocks

Skyra leaned against the rough wood of an oak tree, watching the sky with a passive expression. Overhead, the clouds drifted lazily across the great blue expanse, free of trouble. A breeze blew through the trees, filling her nose with the sweet, magic-infused air of Moonsky. She closed her eyes, taking a moment to let her troubles float away on the breeze. The weight on her shoulders lightened considerably, if only for a passing moment, and she was a child again. Memories flitted across her vision.

Rashida, chasing her with arms outstretched through the forest as Skyra ran rampant with magic streaming from her fingers. Star Catcher, winging through the air with his granddaughter atop his back. Her father's warm scales against her back as she snuggled into his side. The smile of her late mother, radiant as the sun.

Skyra's eyes snapped open, and suddenly, all of the weight came rushing back at her, cutting off the flood of childhood memories. She heaved a sigh, pushing herself off of the bough of the oak tree she leaned against as footsteps crunched on pine needles behind her. The scent of magic filled her nostrils.

"Still sulking?" Niko Diavolo questioned, a smirk on the warlock's face. Shasta followed close behind. The hound had taken a liking to him, and was currently drooling on the backs of his shoes as the pair came to a halt.

"I'm sorry," Skyra snapped. "But I don't recall sending for you, Sparky." Her voice dripped with venom as she spat his childhood nickname at him. "So turn your magic-buzzed butt around, and march it back to camp. I don't give a flying fig-leaf about anything you have to say."

"Sorry, Scales," Niko retorted. "But the Leaders want to meet the Rune Keeper now."

Skyra glared at him. Niko's ruby-colored eyes glinted at her through his black banks. A wry smile was stretched across his face. Skyra scoffed at him in disgust.

"I would die before letting Mason get anywhere near those babbling fools. His is not some pawn for them to move across a chess board, to be used." She rounded on him, a snarl overtaking her features. "He was ripped from his family, plunged into a war that is not his to fight! It is my responsibility to protect him. He is a child, untouched by the horrors that war brings, and I will keep him that way if it kills me."

"Skyra—" Niko attempted.

"No," Skyra hissed. "You didn't see his face, Niko," she croaked. "You didn't see Erin's eyes as he died in my arms. The emptiness that I saw. A dragon-bound warrior, one of our own, broken at such a young age."

Skyra's eyes locked with his. "If I ever see that in Mason's eyes, I will never forgive the Leaders."

Niko held her gaze a while before he threw back his head, laughing. "Well, this is certainly a surprise. Who would've thought that the mighty Skyra could be turned into the sniveling Halfling everyone thought her to be so easily?"

"You're stepping into dangerous territory," Skyra warned.

Niko held up a hand. "You've said your bit, now let me get in a few words, you little conversation hog." Skyra huffed, but shut her mouth grudgingly.

Niko smirked. "That's better," he continued. "You're afraid of losing another person, Skyra." He rolled his eyes at her reproachful expression. "Oh, don't give me that look. It's not a crime to feel pain, to feel fear. And you, of all people, deserve that privilege more than anyone else." His gaze softened.

"Come on, Sky, your parents are dead. You can't use too much of your magic without going berserk. You can only tap into the Beastial of your heritage. Or, God forbid, you tap into your dragon side and get trapped in dragon form forever. Not to mention you just lost a friend. Of course you aren't eager to lose someone else."