The Dragon Prince

Chapter 13

Heir Prince Felix Andry

Imperial City, Vrinian

"Jaymie." I set her on the ground, kneeling down to her, and taking her hands in mind. I could see she was worried, and slightly afraid, but she was also trying to be brave. "I need you to wait here. I won't be far and I will be right back." I was close enough. The pain was now making my body tremble. I needed to refuse the bond before it killed me. "I want you to hold your hands over your ears." She hesitated for a second, but then did as I asked. Good girl. I kissed the top of her head, her curly red hair was windblown and matted. I then stood up, and walked several feet from her. If it worked, I didn't want to take the chance of Emerask squashing her on accident.

When I stopped walking, I couldn't feel my legs anymore, and I could only barely feel my arms. I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the trembling and the pain, though it hardly worked. I closed my eyes, concentrating on what I wanted. Emerask. I wanted my dragon. I wanted to see him. I wanted to feel the smoothness of his dark green scales beneath my hand. I needed his strength. I needed him to takes us home.

When I opened my eyes again, the were clouded, dark but something was barely visible. He was scanning the trees. He could feel me. He was looking for me. I pushed my right hand into the air, and a scream escaped me as the pain erupted though my hand. My knees weakened, and I sank to the ground, but with my hand still raised, the call was still in effect. I heard a shrill cry from the dragon. Long and echoing off the mountains. I could feel the dragon's blood burning though my veins, burning the last of my energy. I different kind of darkness set in, and I swayed on my knees, my hand falling limply to my side. The call ended, and my vision returned, but just briefly as I fell back, head hitting the ground in the tall grass of the field. I tried to blink away the darkness, but I knew I couldn't. I had done too much. I knew I only had seconds left. I reached into my boot, pulling out a sharp throwing knife I had been given by the farmer. With it I ran the blade across my right hand, not even feeling it. Both hands fell limply to the ground, the knife lost in the grass. I looked back to the sky, as the darkness started closing in.

I saw him, coming in to land. He had heard me. He had seen me. We might still have a chance. I couldn't move, or even feel him land. The only thing I could do was succumb to the darkness. Whether it was death, or something else, it didn't matter. Emerask wouldn't hurt Jaymie. He would take her home. He would take us both home. The darkness descended and I was gone.

"Pa-pa." I felt the shake as I heard a voice. Jaymie's voice. She needed me, I could hear it in her tone. I focused everything on waking myself up, and my eyes flew open.

"Jaymie." I said, catching sight of her trying to awaken me. She was worriedly kneeling beside me, trying to shake me awake. I wasn't sure how long I was out, or how she found me, but I was back. I sat up slowly, placing my left hand on her cheek, letting her know that I was alright. I felt a huff of air blow past us, and I knew he was there. I turned slightly. His dark eyes watched my every move, as I slowly got up. He was sitting, almost like a proud cat. "Emerask." His head tilted slightly. He wanted to know me, but the bond was still weak. I glanced down at my hand to see it only slightly healed. He had touched me, but not long enough. He had given me strength, but not near enough that I needed. I pulled my right hand up, palm facing him, and saw where he had scratched himself. "You found me." I said softly to him, as he bent down lower, curiously taking in the familiar action. He flinched back from my hand. He could feel me shaking. "It is alright, Emerask. It is me." I took a deep breath and let it out.

After a few seconds, he pressed his nose to my palm, and I bit back as it felt the sharp burning as though my skin was melting into his. Slowly, very slowly, I felt a bit of strength return. My small aches and pains subsided, and my breathing slowed, though the burn still remained.