The Loyal

14- A Changing Tide

Sirath couldn't recall what had happened to her for the last two hours, but she remembered everything before that. Sirath knew she'd been under the control of Taintith. She tried hard not to think about the other cells in the room, or what would happen if Sirath took more dosages of the mixture.

She shoved her snout again the bars, trying hard to lift them off before realising it was fruitless. They were too heavy even for her. Dain would be able to use the reel to lift it up and she could help, if he came. She guessed he didn't know what was happening and decided that the only thing she could do was wait.

Constantly Sirath felt herself falling asleep, and every time she bit her tail or shoved her wings against the wall to prevent the tides of darkness to consume her. If she did, and Dain found the room, he wouldn't know which cell she was in and may think she wasn't there. As every minute passed and staying awake became harder. 

A screeching whistle jolted Sirath from another predicted near sleep. She leapt to her feet and pushed her nose through the bars, trying to see what was going on. The sound suddenly stopped and was replaced by hinges swinging nosily open. The soft feet padded over the floor and a voice quietly called out, "Sirath?"

"Dain!" she replied with relief, "are you okay?"

"I could ask you the same question,"

"You know the answer,"

Dain's olive face appeared above hers, he reached his fingers through and stroked Sirath's snout. "We've got to get out of here,"

Sirath shuddered at the thought of staying in the cell for more than a week. The creatures that were once her father and Ixrith would forever haunt her dreams and waking hours. She prayed that they wouldn't wake up and escape their cells, for their health and hers.

"Go over to that wheel. Yes, I'll help you pull it up. One. . . two . . . three!"

Dain braced his feet and shoved the reel, flexing his arms back and forth. Sirath threw all her weight against the ceiling, scraping her claws to keep in place. Once a small gap appeared she burrowed her snout through, pushed her whole body after.  

Dain left the reel and stood by Sirath as she climbed out of the dark cell. He pressed his face into her chest and remained quiet, but obviously he was hiding something from her, but strangely, she didn't mind. Dain stepped back and looked into her eyes. 

"Are you okay? What did they do to you?"

Sirath turned to the entrance, fighting her heart which wanted to at least look in the other cells. "Come, we have no time to talk, we've got to escape." 

Dain hurried climbed onto her back, ignoring the fact that she didn't have the saddle on her. "Alright,"

They were just about to exit the frightening room when another voice cried out with hope. "Sirath?!"

The blue dragon spun her head around, hope filled every cranny in her heart. She bounded to the nearest cell, not caring what Dain thought and peered inside. Ixrith, with his beautiful golden eyes stared back, disbelief clear on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he whispered, as if in a dream.

"It's a long story," Sirath said before clamping her teeth on the wheel and reeling it around. The black dragon stood up beside Sirath and nuzzled her neck in thanks. "You have no idea what they did to me." he shuddered.

"I do," she replied quietly, glancing down.

Dain awkwardly sat, trying hard to show his discomfort. "Uh, can we go, before anyone comes?"

"Yes, the havian is right."

"Wait," Sirath said, giving in to all temptation. She wandered over to the third cell, clenched her teeth and peered in, steeling her heart. Vivid red eyes stared back, slightly off balanced and crazed. Her father's dark green scales were more brown than green and his golden claws had been covered in a strange metal.

Dain gulped beside her ear. "Who is that?"

Sirath didn't answer. It was clear what they were trying to do: make a dragon army and control the whole world. It would be so easy with the use of Taintith. 

"Papa?" she whispered, fighting down her emotions. The dragon gave no recognition and remained staring into the galaxy.

Ixrith came to her side, "Sirath," he said gently, pushing her back towards the doorway. "There's nothing you can do for him. Except leave."

They left the room and Sirath heart behind. Creeping through the hall, (all well as a dragon can creep,) luckily encountering no one. The moonlight was scarce and the skies were covered in clouds, keeping the treacherous stars away that night. The three discovered the main doors wide open and unguarded. The entire town was quiet, no lights flickered in the windows.

Sirath glanced back and looked up into the highest windows. Seeing a figure, a strange feeling told her it was Scias. He seemed to make no attempt to reclaim his prisoners and simply watched with a smile glowing on his face.

The took off from the castle stair and Sirath was constantly glancing back at the king. There was nothing, Sirath decided, worse than a content enemy. The air around them was cool and light and the moon was half gone. Dain clung to the spiked ridges on her shoulder blades and tried extra hard not to fall off.

"How did you find me?" Sirath asked the boy, with Ixrith further ahead.

"I didn't trust the king. I didn't believe he would take care of you. I crept out of my room, which they forgot to lock, and found the stables. A boy there told me what he saw and I followed his directions to you."

Sirath decided to tell Dain how badly they messed up. "Scias is the one who captured your people. We wen in a loop, retuning to where it all started."

Dain groaned, "and now he knows what we're doing."

"Yes, and he has a potion which controls the minds of dragons," she added, feeling worse.

Dain gulped, "did he give it to you?"

"Yes, but the first dosages, he told me this, have no affect. I'm fine."

"We're doomed."