Dragon Tide Chronicles: Dawn Rising

Chapter 8: Sapphire Song

Chapter Eight: Sapphire Song

After a few more hours, mainly filled by intense yelling, we finally exited the cave.

No… grandpa would never kill unless he had no other choice! And even then, children?! Never! NEVER! He’d never sink that low!!

Such were the thoughts that were in my head until I gazed on the Sapphire Dragonling Isle. The land hummed with a vibrant energy that was quite peaceful, all around, huge trees with thick trunks that shone with a brilliant shine on their bark stood proud. Prismatic colors from beautiful rainbows of flowers in the fields could be seen for miles. We had emerged from an outcropping on a gentle emerald colored hill, the grass was like fur. The skies were a brilliant blue.

“Woooow…” Both Ore and I exclaimed with wonder. “How does such a beautiful place exist?” I ask to Alexander, who does not look in the slightest bit happy to be here. I notice there are giant sapphire crystals floating in the air, occasionally pulsing.

“Welcome to the Sapphire Dragonling Territory. Now, we have a bit of a trek, and guards occasionally roam the fields. We must keep a look out to avoid being seen. It’s getting late. Set up camp there.”

He points to a small grove just on the outskirts of a forest. “I’ll be right back. Don’t follow me, or I’ll have to kill you.” With that, Alexander walks off into the forest.

Ore and I exchange glances. “I’m sure it’s nothing, Danica. Let’s just do as he says and set up camp. Who knows what he’s up to? Best not get concerned over nothing right?” He smiles encouragingly.

I take a deep breath. “Your right, Ore. Let’s just get to work. I didn’t pack any food though. I hope he’ll bring some when he returns.” With that, we began our earnest work on the campsite. I build a wall of earth around the perimeter of the camp, while Ore builds tents. He also sets up Arcane Traps. Didn’t you know? Opps, didn’t tell you did I? You see, Ore happens to be a wizard, but also is a smith. On top of that, he’s a mechanic, of various sorts. He just loves finding new technology to study.

It was nearly midnight when I looked up on the hill we were standing on and my heart stopped. “Ore. Wake up. NOW. It’s The Covenant.”

Ore immediately bolts upright. “What?! Do they see us?” He was genuinely frightened.

“Yes. I’m deadly sure. They fit the description.” The Covenant are a group of Seven Remnants, fragments of a person’s soul and body with frightening powers. The Covenant is the most powerful of them all, and they are without mercy. And the fact that they are coming straight at us is not a good sign. A huge one, the one known as ‘Theta’ is already charging at us, when…

“Theta. That’s enough. Stop.” A voice, deep and deadly as ice barks out from behind us. I turn around, and see none other then Signas, the leader of the Covenant. “We can’t just kill every traveler we meet, Theta. That’s just unbecoming. Now, SIT.” Reluctantly, the freaky being Theta stops and sits down on all fours, oddly like a dog, however, that just made him look more terrifying. I pause to look up at Signas, and his appearance is far more terrifying then I could have imagined.

Like the rest of the Covenant, which I can’t see very well, he wears a mask which hides his face. The mask, on its left and right sides has black crescents, with an eyehole in each of the designs. The center of the mask is white, with a black spiral design. His build is that of a typical Dragonling’s, like that of a human’s but incredibly strong. Probably why he’s a Dragonling-Type.

He wears a black robe with crimson flames stitched into the bottom, it flows along with his movements like a bat lurking in his shadow. His hair is a whiteish blond. One of his eyes open and regard me with an impish light in it.  Sticking out of his robes are his red wings, signifying that he is the ‘Red Dragonling’ type. He takes a short breath, which echoes loudly in his mask.

“I’ll be on my way. Be grateful that I’m being merciful this time. Danica Crown.” With that, they vanish.

I shudder. “Ore, I’m scared.” I was thoroughly shaking in fear.

Finally, after a few minutes, Alexander shows up, slightly weary. “What’s going on? You look like you saw a ghost. Make a fire, and I’ll cook some food.” We quietly start up a fire, and then sit down, staring blankly at the flames. Then we smell what’s cooking.

“My word, is that ham? Gosh, that’s making me rather hungry… Where’d you get it?” I ask. He shows me a can. “What… A ham in a can?! How can that taste good?” He silently slips some into my mouth. Oh… my word. That is the best thing from a can I’ve ever had in my ENTIRE life. But who made such a thing? I’d love to ask them how they-

“She’s dead. She died a long time ago. They still use her recipes. As a gesture of gratitude and to honor her memory.” He said this in an odd, cold tone. This makes me feel on edge.

“What’s wrong? Is something the…” He stands up.

“I’m going to bed. Get some sleep. We’ve got at least two more days to go before we get to Sapphiriana, the capital of the Sapphire Dragonlings. Good night.” He says this again in a cold, ridged tone. How odd… what’s wrong with him? All I thought was how they did it… wait. Oh crap! He can read minds?! That night, nightmares of the encounter with The Covenant, and the mysterious way Alexander was acting troubled my sleep, and I would often wake up, in a sweat, terrified.

I finally awoke to being kicked in the side. “Hey! Stop that!” I yell at Alexander, who was kicking me awake.

“Get up. We’re leaving. Leave nothing behind. We don’t need to be caught out here before we even get close to the capital.” The events of last night still deeply troubled me, but I managed to take up everything, and make the grove look exactly like it was before we came. I then take a good look at the scenery, and we all head off into the deep woods.