Dragonborn

Chapter 3 ~ New Aquaintances

    There was a speck on the horizon. As it grew closer, she could make out what looked like a mansion. Judging by the increasing speed of Sai's wingbeats, it was their final destination.

    They reached it just as the sun set on the horizon. It was a beautiful sight really, the last rays were every color from yellow to orange, red and purple. "Look." Akila whispered, pointing at the sky. "It's the first star."

    She had no doubt that the aquamarine dragon heard her, but she elicited no response. Akila didn't need one from her anyways, she needed it from her father. Every night, she would point to the first star. And every night, he would smile and say 'Yes, it is here to welcome the night and guide us home until the moon's arrival.'

    But alas, she realized with a pang, she probably wouldn't hear him say that ever again. So instead, she said it to herself, "It is here to guide us until the moon comes out."

    Sai must have taken it the wrong way, and startled her by replying, "Yes, but Dragonborns can see very well in the dark, so you won't be needing it for much longer."

    While she was curious as to what 'much longer' meant, she was too tired and to saddened by the unintentional deeper meaning of those words to reply. Eventually, they landed on the ground. Sai dipped low to allow Akila to slide off her back. The latter landed on the a ground a bit unsteadily.

    "Welcome to your new home." The dragon said as she changed back into her human form, the only reminder of her power being the frills on the sides of her head. "Dinner will be served soon, so you can get a chance to meet the other six knights. Perhaps you will even learn a little about the potential your powers have."

    Sai knocked on the door. It was opened by a petite maid who was well into older years. "Welcome back Sai" She said, the woman then looked at Akila. "And who is this."

    "This," Said Sai, "Is the newest addition to our circle of knights."

    "Oh!" The old maid seemed delighted, "Well then," She extended her hand. "Me name is Oralia. What is yours dear?"

    She reluctantly shook the woman's hand. "My name is Akila."

    "Delighted to meet you! Now come on inside, dinner is about to be served."

    Akila looked towards the Dragonborn for permission, and at the nod of her head she proceeded inside. It was extravagantly and tastefully decorated with expensive paintings and furnishings. The walls were painted a beautiful red with gold and rich brown accents here and there. "Wow" She breathed. "I-I should probably go change into something more appropriate for this..."

    "No need, you look just fine dear." Oralia said.

    Akila knew it wasn't true, but the old maid's words still made her feel a bit better about herself. "Then maybe I should go run a comb through my hair...?"

    "Nonsense!" Oralia pressed. "Just follow me to the dinning room."

    The three entered a room, inside were five people. "Is she part of the wait staff?" Asked a tall blonde. Her pale green eyes reflected that she was bored. The most interesting part about her though, was that she had small horns sticking out of the top of her head. It made her look like a little imp.

    "No." Sai answered for her. "She's actually one of us."

    "Oh." Several of them gasped, but only the man at the head of the table uttered a word. Judging by his long gray-black hair, he seemed to be going into his older years. His eyes though, shone the color of molten gold. "Welcome to our ranks then, my name is Gustav. What is yours?"

    "Um, it's Akila." She answered.

    "You'll have to speak more confidentially, you're on of us now." This time the speaker was on Gustav's left, he didn't look more than a few years older than her. "It'll come with time."

    She frowned at the boy, he had brown hair and unnaturally amber eyes. "Alright..."

    When the conversation died, Oralia interfered "Well, don't be rude. Introduce yourselves to the girl."

    The woman who had first addressed her went first, though she didn't deem her worth looking up from her nails. "My name's Allura."

    "Gavin" said the brown haired boy who had just spoke.

    "Cameron." The boy that spoke sat beside Gavin. He had stone grey hair that complemented eyes of a slightly lighter shade. He also had horns, but his were longer.

    "I'm Moon." The speaker was a girl, she had whitish-silver hair. She also had one silver scale below each navy blue eye. "And you are a very interesting girl."

    "Oh" Akila's cheeks reddened as she looked at herself from bottom to top. She was a pretty plain girl, brown hair and tanned skin. The only thing remarkable about her was her indigo eyes, a perfect blend between blue and purple. "Thank you."

    Moon briefly consulted a well-loved notebook before pulling out the chair to her right and speaking again. "Come. Sit by me."

    "Ok." She answered unsurely.

    Sai took the seat across from Akila.

    "I'm glad you've returned." Gustav said. " And that you've found another Dragonborn. I must report this to the king immediately. So if you would please excuse Gavin and I, we cannot afford to wait until dinner is over."

    With that, both of them got up and left just as the food was being brought in.

    "Why Gavin?" Akila asked.

    Cameron was the first to answer, "He's the fastest flyer."

    "I see, and how far is the Capital City?"

    "Mmmmm... an hour, give or take."

    "Oh."

    And as it had done many times that day, conversation fell away into awkward silence. The only sound that could be heard was Moon frantically turning the pages of her journal. Akila decided to grasp at straws so she turned to her and asked, "What do you use that journal for?"

    The girl frantically grasped at the pages for a few more seconds before answering. "I use it to record what I see."

    "Let's bet on what color she's going to be." Allura said suddenly.

    Moon opened her mouth, but everyone simultaneously yelled "Shut up!"

    The girl immediately stopped speaking and closed her eyes. A crinkle formed on her brows.

    "Personally." Allura continued, "I think it will be indigo."

    "Nah." Cameron said. "I'm going to guess green."

    "Where did you get that from?" The speaker was Sai.

    "It's never what you expect it to be, so my bet is on green." The boy explained.

    "I personally think it's purple." Allura commented.

    "Green."

    "Purple."

    "Green!"

    "Purple!"

    "GREEN!!"

    "PURPLE!!!"

    "STOP!" Moon was standing on her chair. "How can you fight over such trivial things, this is important!"

    "What do you mean?" Cameron asked.

    The girl sat down as tears started pooling in her eyes. "I don't know. I really don't know..."

    From there, the only sound was occasional turning of pages in Moon's notebook.

Total words: 3,172