Imperial

Chapter 11

"You!" I whirled around, facing the dark blue drake. He was so big, so very big, and undoubtedly strong. But I could not help remember the last time we stumbled across us - when he had insulted us. "What do you want?" Why had we come across him so many times? Rutilus shook his head, his nostrils flaring. He did not speak, but his golden eyes glittered with menace. As though he too recalled that insult.

How long had he been here? And why hadn't he helped Soriak in the fight? A dragon as big as him was bound to make a difference in the fight. Perhaps we could have freed all of the dragons, and we would not need to worry about Soriak being killed.

Fury shot through me, and I snarled at the dark blue dragon.

The dark blue did not answer, instead scanning us with his intense silver eyes. I couldn't help but notice that his gaze lingered on Rutilus's gold-flecked wings, before examining both of us. Then, with his deep, sonorous voice, he asked, "How old are you two?"

Unsure, Rutilus and I exchanged glances. Finally, I dared to hold the older drake's gaze – still snarling. Showing him that I did not appreciate his question. "Twenty, give or take a few months," I spoke at last, my voice cold. Beside me, Rutilus dipped his head stiffly, confirming that he too was around that age.

Nonetheless, I watched the dark blue drake's reaction carefully.

I could have sworn that those silver eyes lit up with hope for the briefest second, but everything else that the giant dragon did made me wonder if I'd imagined it. 

"Twenty? Barely an adult," the dark blue drake scoffed, his tail flicking. But his silver eyes darkened, as he continued. "You should be flying with a wing of dragons, at least. Did your mothers' never take you to her wing before you were caught?"

Confusion sparked in my gaze. "What do you mean? Wing?" I had never heard a dragon refer to a wing, aside from the ones on our own bodies. Even Rutilus looked unsure, his brow furrowed.

The giant dragon's eyes darkened further, like clouds do before a storm. "A wing of dragons. Like a flock of birds, but dragons instead. Twenty years old! How could you not know?" He almost sounded anxious, as though he could not believe we had never even heard of a wing of dragons. For a moment, I hesitated.

"I have told you before, I have never been free. Nor did the dragons ever speak of freedom or their past," I admitted at last to the dark blue drake, answering his question. Perhaps if he felt sympathetic towards us, he'd leave us alone. Or perhaps answer our questions. But nonetheless, I could not help but feel uncomfortable in his presence.

"What do you want?" I repeated my question from earlier. There had to be a reason why we had come across him three times recently, as well as the fact that he was talking to us now.

But the dark blue drake merely chuckled - amused by my question. "What do I want? You are the ones in my territory. Just be lucky that I don't kill all the dragons that do somehow stray into my territory."

My eyes widened, and I glanced at Rutilus, confused. "But your mother..."

"She did not live in my territory. Her mountain range is beyond my border" the dark blue drake did not bother explaining where else was his territory. Instead his intense silver eyes went from me to Rutilus, "You cannot even recognise the border of a dragon's territory?" Once again, his tone was disbelieving, disapproving.

Anger shooting through my veins, I glared at him. "Thank you for pointing that out." I retorted sarcastically.

The giant dragon grunted, his silver eyes darkening. It was then that I realised that he was alarmed by our lack of knowledge. But why would he be, though? My fury ebbed slightly, and I tilted my head curiously. Instead of saying anything, the dark blue drake's head shot up, and his silver eyes were sweeping over the southern horizon.