The Last Dragon Child

A Fleeting Moment

In one motion, I glided to my horse and swung myself onto her back. I could feel Jemithar's eyes piercing my back. My breath sharpened and became shallow as my heart sped up. I spurred the horse into a canter towards the gated entrance of the town. I tried to control my breathing as my heightened senses searched for some sign of danger that I was sure to find. Zephraim spoke in my mind, 

I can see that you have somehow already gotten yourself into a hunt, with you as the prey. A dangerous territory here, Sayvel, but it is always nice to have a dashing knight chasing you, no?

"Shut up" I mutter to him, a warm blush creeps up my face as I remember the rippling muscles that I had seen under his shirt during our first meeting. 

We dashed through the closing doors of the gates and galloped out into the open world. 

My breathing slowed as we got farther and farther from the haunting campfire and Jemithar's cold stare. The chilling cold air wrapped around me, sending a shiver down my spine. 

I kept the horse at a steady gallop, when I heard the pounding of hooves on the hard-packed dirt. I turned to see a horse speeding toward me; it's rider had a hood pulled low over it's face and the cape flowed violently in the wind. As I took a closer look, I saw the moonlight shine on the tip of an arrow.

I turned forward and pushed my horse into a run. My ears caught the sound of the snap of bowstring and the whiz of a flying arrow. I veered my horse to the slight left and ducked low as the arrow flew by my head, just missing my ear. I urged the horse to go faster as I ducked to avoid arrows that shot over my head.

"You won't get away, Dragon Child!" Jemithar's voice shrieked over the sound of running horses. 

As my eyes scanned the path ahead of me, looking for some sort of escape from the volley of arrows, my keen eyes saw a somewhat obscure path that veered sharply off the main road. I unstrapped my sword from the saddle and sent a thought to Zephraim. 

"I'm jumping off the horse to try and shake his pursuit."

Be safe, Sayvel. By the way, this is a horrible way to get a guy to pursue you...

I simply rolled my eyes and started to perch on the running horse. Staying precariously balanced on the speeding horse I counted down for the jump.

3...2...1...

I launched myself onto the hidden path and rolled onto my knees as Jemithar's horse rode by. Jemithar swore loudly as he took notice that I was no longer on the horse he was after. 

I didn't have much time to lag, so I snuck over to a clearing in the tall grass and hid in the edge of the clearing. Jemithar would have noticed the path when he saw me jump. I steadied my breathing to a silent whisper, and gripped my sword hilt, and listened for any signs that might indicate that Jemithar would come. 

The seconds turned to minutes, and with each agonizing moment, I grew more and more uneasy. Jemithar didn't become General of the army for nothing. He was smart, and dangerous, and thorough in his work. He would burn this entire field before letting me go.