The Loyal

15- The Faded Black

The three companions landed in the forest just North to Skyhaven where they hoped no one would look. Dain ironically realised that this was the forest he was in roughly a week ago, and the week before that; he never knew dragons actually existed. They eat in silence, chewing on silver fish from a pond nearby. Dain repeatedly glanced at both dragons, trying hard to see any signs of the potions affecting them. Thankfully, he saw nothing.

Dain felt increasingly guilty because he hadn't told his dragon the truth about why he came for her. After dinner the woman led him back up and as she locked the door, Dain stuck his foot between them and prevented the door from fully closing. It was funny because the woman didn't even notice, which confirmed Dain suspicions that she was assigned with locking all doors, and was bored with the job, therefore, doing a poor attempt.

That night he couldn't sleep, haunted by images of Sirath being chained down and studied like an insect. He suddenly realised that he gave his best friend's life away and shouldered his pack. From his room, Dain kept searching until he found the stables where a young stable hand was still cleaning up. The boy told Dain everything he saw and Dain didn't give up searching until he found the Dragon cells.

The pain that Sirath must be suffering hurt Dain. The very thought of losing her mother to a poison in the water, then her own father betraying her and not even recognising her was horrible.

Dain finished his fish and watched Ixrith curl up under a tree, several feet away from them. Sirath wrapped her wings and tail around her, looking quite vulnerable. She shut her eyes, blocking out the world and Dain's heart melted. 

In a few minutes Dain couldn't help himself and climbed gently into the curl of the blue dragon's tail. She opened one eye and stretched her mouth into a broken smile before returning to her sleep. Dain watched her face, contemplating just how beautiful she was. He rolled over and was fascinated with her warmth before delving back into his own thoughts.

So, it turned out King Scias actually enslaved his people. Dain couldn't help a sarcastic laugh escaping. How clueless was he? Going to Scias for help against Scias? The dry humour kept Dain from realising how much danger they were in now that the king was aware of them. It was even worse that he smiled as he watched them go. What was he planning? Obviously he felt they would return to him soon.

Dain gently opened his eyes, shocked to see it was almost morning. He hadn't been aware he fell asleep. Dain looked around himself, without moving anything that would arouse Sirath. The golden light filtered in from the tall iron barks. Small, low lying creatures scuttled around, nosing through the leaf litter for crunchy insects and edible berries.

These scenes calmed Dain. He was just about to fall asleep again when he glanced at the black dragon. Ixrith's eyelids were twitching and his golden claws were stretching out. Dain felt all his tiredness fall away as he watched the dragon struggled, as if controlled by a spirit. Then it hit Dain. Last night Sirath told him about Taintith and how it controlled dragons' minds.

He leapt from his "bed" and scrabbled back, throwing the pack around his shoulders. Dain shook Sirath's head, quietly, but urgently, calling her name. Sirath ultramarine eyes snapped open. She looked at Dain with confusion. He pressed a finger to his lips and pointed, fear driving his actions.

Sirath climbed to her feet, every spike splayed out. Her claws had grow out and her wings were arched in position. "Ixrith?" she lowered her head.

They waited for a minute before, finally, Ixrith's eyes wretched open and he stared blankly at his flying companions.

"Get back!" Sirath hissed at Dain, shoving him behind her with her tail. She fanned her wings out above her and stepped forward. "Ixrith, this is not you!"