The Loyal

2 - Curse

Dain groaned, dragging his hand across his face, rubbing his eyes. He had accidentally pushed his captor a step too far, which resulted in being knocked out. Every inch of skin on his body ached ten times more. The small wound from the nail had healed over, but looked infected.

"Good morning," a gruff voice came from above Dain. "You're looking messy. I don't wish I was you right now."

Startled, Dain flung his eyes open, blessed by the face a boy near his age. His brown eyes were framed by black bags. He had oak hair, tousled and knotted. Dain shoved himself up onto his shoulders, struggling to keep down the cry of pain which begged to be voiced.

"I'm Curse, pleased to meet you,"

"Likewise," Dain shut his eyes, fighting waves of sickness, " . . . I'm Dain. Curse?"

"Hmm mh. Curse. That's my name, my ma was feeling especially creative when she gave birth to me." Curse shrugged, taking several steps back.

The room they were in was roughly three meters by three meters. Pressed against opposite walls were two stone slabs, both with a threadbare sheet. At the back of the tiny cell was a toilet and sink. At the front was a barred door, looking out into a corridor.

"What happened?" Dain asked his companion.

Curse sat heavily onto his bed. "About two hours ago one of the guards came in, carrying you, then left. I'm sorry, that's all I know."

"Oh, Sirath, I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I'll get us out of this." Dain dropped his head, burying it in his calloused palms.

"Um." Curse waited awkwardly, "that's a unique name, Sirath I mean. Never heard anything like it."

Dain shoot his head, "her entire . . . tribe . . . kingdom? . . . All her people have names like that.'

"What kingdom?"

"She's a dragon." Dain tasted the grin.

"Right. A dragon. Your friend is a dragon. Her name is Sirath. That's completely normal."

"It's a long story."

"I have time. I'm not planning on going anywhere."

Dain told Curse the story of Skyhaven, of meeting Sirath, of Scias, of aunt Myrin, of Ophira and Moonhaven. Sirath and Dain had been so cautious, so careful about who they chose to tell the story to, but right now, Dain needed to let everything out. By the silence from adjacent cells, Dain realised uncomfortably that other inmates were listening. The tale sounded sweet, like something his mother would tell him. A story about heroes saving the land.

I'm a hero

Then flashes of Irroar burned behind his eyes. The screaming, the crackling, the smoke. That was all his fault. Heroes saved, not killed. They created, not destroyed. In Dain's opinion, he was a villain.

"Either you're crazy, or you're incredibly good at telling stories." Curse commented, some time after Dain had finished.

"I think the first option would best describe me,"Dain groaned, keeping his body as still as possible. He took in shallow breaths, attempting to reduce the overwhelming pain. Curse watched awkwardly, trying his hardest to be helpful without succeeding.

"How did you get here?" the Skyhavian boy asked, his world blurring in and out of focus.

Curse settled down on his side, taking a drink from a stained wooden cup. "It was a several weeks back. I'm from Sunhaven, though I don't look like it. Me and my seven brothers were hunting in the Savannah, searching for something that would feed our family. It was probably one of the hottest days I'd ever experienced. All the animals we saw were resting under trees in packs. It was too dangerous to attack them..

"My brother Cretin suggested we look for reptiles, but it was too hot even for them. Being for a huge family, I hadn't had anything to drink that day, and I was feeling the sun. The house was far away, and I knew I wouldn't be able to make it. There was no way I was asking one of my brothers for help. So I found on of the trees and rested there. The animals were growling at me, but soon calmed down when they realised I wasn't fit for hunting. None of my brothers noticed my escape.

"I was woken up suddenly to see all the animals fleeing, coming hurdling towards the tree was a wagon pulled by these monstrous horses. A woman leaped from the front seat and grabbed me. All she said was that I could make her rich before she knocked me senseless.

"Then I woke up here. Every now and then they'll get you out, kit you up, and send you into the Colosseum to fight. I've been in four fights already."

Dain gave a gasp of fear. There was no way he'd be able to survive one fight. But this thought settled into the back of his mind, drowned by the tides of drowsiness. He rolled onto his undamaged side and fell into a pool of unconsciousness.

Usually Dain was able to recall nearly every dream he had - a skill from his mother - but this night was different. He dreamed of Elena, the goddess of death, cradling a small child. It was clear this child wasn't dead, because though the surrounding area was black, the child glowed like a second son. "You will be my hero." The goddess had whispered.

Upon awakening, the dream vanished instantly, but a warm feeling of safety remained. Curse was crouched above Dain, gently shaking his shoulder. "Quickly, wake up."

He opened his bright blue eyes. "What is it?"

"You've been chosen to compete today. But I know a guy who can get in contact with the games leader. We can hopefully cancel your fight."

"Oh Threy, please." Dain groaned, accepting Curse's hand to help him up.

The older boy walked to the entrance and gave a sharp whistle. "Gilno!"

"What is it, Curse?" Came a yelled reply.

"My friend here needs a meeting with the games planner. Tell him that Dain, the new prisoner, would like to make a deal with him!"

"Sure Curse."

Curse turned back to Dain. "The only way you can avoid this fight is if you can make an offer with the games planner which will result in better entertainment than throwing you in a fight now."

"What am I supposed to offer. They've taken the only valuable thing I have, my sword." Dain felt a pang of sadness at the loss.

"Don't worry, they'll give it back to you when you're fighting. I was thinking you could offer to fight with your dragon. That'd been something that would bring the gold piling in. The only problem is that he'll want to use you constantly if your good for business."

Dain shook his head, "I don't care, I might later, but right now I don't. I need to see her."

"Alright, just rest up. The guards will come to get you soon. In roughly an hour or so, you should be meeting with the games planner."