The Juras Complex (Book 1 of the Darkfell Chronicles) #wattys2019

I

The dark purple sky loomed over the wooded outskirts of the kingdom of Thalos, a cluster of clouds rolling in from the east. Over the horizon, a large airship flew overhead. Its three masts groaned as the wind within picked up as the storm grew closer. There was a flash, illuminating the silver and gold hull before darkness and silence filled the skies once more. The ship then shock as a loud clap of thunder vibrated through the very timbers of the ship.

Xander jolted awake, having fallen asleep on guard duty and heard the thunder outside. They must be flying into a thunderstorm. He glanced across the room to the barred cell and to the girl sitting inside it. She was staring at him. With those bright amber eyes and that ugly scar twisting her mouth into a leery grin.

"Had a nice nap, did we?" Her Lowlander accent was thick and rough but Xander didn't answer. He knew better than to speak to dark elves, especially if they were of the Valkari kind.

There was another clap of thunder as the ship lurched, throwing the elf forward as her face collided with the metal bars. Xander let out a snort.

"Oh, ye find that funny now, do ye?" She rubbed her now red nose and crossed her arms, her long pointed ears twitching as if she were listening for something.

"Ye do know you're flying right into the middle of a storm, right?"

"I am aware, yes."

"Shouldn't ye be telling the captain to turn around or something? It sounds pretty bad."

"I'm pretty sure the ship can handle a thunderstorm."

The ship shook and trembled as another sound of thunder erupted from the skies, but something sounded different, grunts and yells could be heard above and the familiar sound of gun and cannon fire was heard.

"Ye need to let me out," The elf said.

"Why should I?"

"Because whatever's about to happen, ye definitely need my help protecting the princess."

"You sneak onto my ship, tried to kill the princess--"

"Wasn't trying to kill her. Didnae have my blades out."

"What makes you think I would--"

"Sir!"

A young man burst through the door. He was clad in silver armour, a rifle in one hand and his helmet tucked under the other. A shock of flaming red hair sat on top of his head.

"We're under attack, sir!"

"By who?"

"Sky pirates."

"Where's the princess?"

"In her quarters, I believe."

Another explosion and Xander swore, picking up his great-sword before looking back at the elf. She shrugged her shoulders, if her hands weren't magically bound together, Xander would have expected them to go up too.

"Your call, chief."

He narrowed his eyes at her. It was that nonchalantness like they weren't under attack by sky pirates and had all the time in the world that really annoyed him the most. Then he growled, taking out the cell keys and unlocking the door.

"If you try anything-" Xander started and the elf rolled her amber eyes.

"Don't worry, my mission isn't to kill any of ye." Xander raised a questioning eyebrow and the elf heaved an annoyed sigh. "Ye can keep my hands bound if that makes ye feel better."

"Fine." Xander turned and walked towards the door. "Myers,"

"Sir?"

"Keep an eye on the elf."

Myers glanced at Xander, then back at the elf, his feet shifting nervously. "Does she have a name?"

Xander shrugged. "You can ask her if you're that curious."

"Umm... It's, well... I..." Myers avoided looking at her, possibly not to stare too long at the scar across her lips.

"It's Lyra," She chimed in, oblivious to how uncomfortable Myers was. Then she looked at Xander. "Shouldn't we be checking on the princess?"

~

The ship shook as the three rushed down the corridor to the princess's quarters, the gunfire and grunts and yells were still heard above on the top deck. Xander spotted a figure exiting the princess's quarters and heading right for them, he drew his sword and Myers readied his rifle.

"Halt!" Xander called out to the figure. "Where is the princess?"

The figure didn't stop but seemed to call out something over the sounds of battle above.

"I'm warning you. Tell me where the princess is!"

"Xander!"

The figure had now come into view, it was a teenage girl with familiar blonde hair and deep hazel eyes. She made her way to Xander, lifting her hands up in surrender as she did so.

"It's me! Just me!" She cried as Xander lowered his sword. She put her hand on her knees as she caught her breath. "Sorry, I heard the explosions and fighting outside and couldn't just-"

She glanced behind him at the dark elf Lyra and Myers, an eyebrow raising in question.

"Any reason as to why we have a dark elf aboard the ship?"

"I'm Lyra. Nice to meet ye, Your Highness."

"Umm, Anwyn. You can call me Anwyn." The princess said. "Xander--"

"No time," Xander cut in. "You've got everything? Books and stuff?"

"All here," Anwyn turned to show him her bag which had a pile of books, scrolls and writing equipment shoved haphazardly inside. "I heard the explosions and thought we were being attacked by sky pirates so I shoved them in with the essentials."

"Shhh. Do ye hear that?" Lyra's ears were twitching again. Her body was low and her eyes narrowed as if ready to fight. Xander strained his ears but heard nothing.

"I don't hear anything," Myers whispered.

"Exactly."

The air was still and silent, nothing apart from the groans of the ship's timbers. No cannon-fire, no fighting. Nothing. Just a cold and deathly silence. Then there was a distant tremor and the ship shuddered. Lyra--who's hearing was the most sensitive--suddenly paled.

"Oh... That's not good. That's really not good at all."

"Why? What was that sound?"

"I mean, I may be wrong here," Lyra began, scratching the top of her silver hair. "But there may be a wee, possible chance that the ship's engine just... exploded."