The Second Dragon

Subzero Part 8

A hour and a half doesn't feel like a long.  It passed by in minutes, a blink of an eye.  I tried to understand why she was panicking.

"Alright.  So?"  I replied and Clove scowled at me.

"You looked dead!"  She told me and I chuckled and walked out of the water and patted her on the head.

"Don't worry so much little sister.  You'll get wrinkles."  I teased and dove into the water.  Leaving a barely visible ripple as I pierced the surface.  I swam around and settled on the bottom of the pool again.  Breathing the water in and exhaling as I swallowed some of it.  The taste of rose petals and oils that laced the water was bitter sweet.  I watched as the water distorted the surface images and twisted their forms.  Clove sat above the water and watched as I grinned up at her.  She waved and then paused and glanced at something.  It must have scared her.  She dove into the water and I formed a air dome around the two of us.

"What is it Clove?  Is something wrong?"  I asked as she crouched at the bottom of the pool on our bubble.

"There's two assassins.  I heard them talking about killing the prince."

"What were they wearing?"  I questioned calmly, knowing now wasn't the time to panic with Clove already shaken up so badly.

"Black?  And Red."  She stuttered out and I nodded and we both swam up to the surface and Clove clung to my arm shaking.

"Listen to me Clove.  I need you to go find the Prince.  There's probably trouble and I need you to tell the Prince.  Warn him.  We have to warn him."  I decided and both of us sprinted out of the pool.  Dripping water but I didn't care at the moment.  Both of us rushing to the throne room.  Clove ran in first while I followed right on her heels.  Kharis and I shared a look and Kyro ran up to Clove and began asking questions.  He was a good match for Clove.  Two black, masked figures walked into the room twirling blood stained daggers.  I flinched at the clearly pleased look in their eyes.

"Hand over the prince."  One snarled.  Male, 6 foot 5 inches, muscular but not quick on his feet.  I drew my swords and crouched.  Muscles coiling like a serpents.

"No."  The faster one of the two charged forward and I flicked my wrist out.  A whip of water collected off of my clothes and hitting the smaller one square in the chest.  The larger one seemed frozen in fear before grabbing the smaller one and tried to escape.  I formed a whirlpool around the two and Kyro's guards took them.  I winced and clutched my side for a moment.

"Sorry Clove."  I murmured and hugged her with one arm.  The smaller one had thrown a dagger.  I couldn't move or it would hit the royal family.  She looked at me confused and I smiled weakly and stepped away from the family.  Wrapping my hand around the handle and pulling.  It slid out with a sickening sucking sound and I dropped it on the ground.  And my knees gave out.  A small swirl of energy leaked from my fingertips that clutched at the wound and healed it.  I could breath.  Perks of being a dragon.  I shook out my arms and stood up shakily before turning towards Kharis.  She nodded in thanks and I nodded back and patted Clove on the shoulder.

"Proud of you my little Cloverfield."  I told her softly and she hugged me smiling.  I hugged her back and then glanced around at the hall.

"There must be someway that the two got inside."  I mused and sighed, letting go of Clove.

"your Majesties!  Guards in the west wing were found murdered!"  A foot soldier yelled and I smirked.  Bingo.  So that's where they came in from?  Clever.  Kyro sent more soldiers that way and reinforced the perimeter.  Waiting til all of the men were out of ear shot. 

"We aren't safe here if they got in that easily.  We'll have to move to our new palace."  Kyro mused thoughtfully.

"The one that got burned down.  It's getting repaired but it's a much safer option."  Kharis finished and I nodded in agreement.  The sun was easily growing overcast, bringing the promise of rain fall.  We got on our horses, a few soldiers joining us.  Speed was the main objective.  I helped Clove into her saddle and nodded at Kharis.  She smiled gently back at me.  I couldn't shake the feeling of danger.  We galloped out and pushed our horses.  A arrow whistled through the air and barely missed Clove.  I made sure she made it to the path with some guards and continued to the palace.  Then pulled Alesia's reins and wheeled her around.  Grabbing Kyro by the arm and throwing him onto his horse.  He slid off it a little but managed to right himself.  I saw Kharis on the ground, pinned against a tree and growled.  The attacker froze and then spotted me and backed away.  Clearly terrified.  I slammed him into a tree and sliced my knife over his neck.  A stream of blood flowed from the cut.  Barely missing the vein in his neck.  I stabbed my knife downward and it stuck into his neck.  The vein I had been aiming for clearly sliced in half and pining his body to the tree behind him.

"Kharis!  Let me get to Kharis!"  Kyro screamed and I noticed the hysterical edge to his voice as I moved in front of him.

"Go!  Go Kyro!  I'll get her!  Protect Clove!  Go!"  I yelled back and he froze before nodding and galloping off.  I made sure that no one came near Kharis as she climbed in front of me.  She sat side-saddle and hung onto my neck as Alesia reared up and struck a attacker with her hooves.  We ran.  Hard.  Galloped away form the forest and down the path.  Skidding to a halt and leaping off of Alesia, Kharis running to her brother.  Clove ran to me and we hugged.  Clove refused to let go of me.  Til I had to check her for injuries.  A simple bruise was forming on her arm but I was furious.  The flash of lightning across the sky proved my rage.

"Who did this?  Was it one of those bandits?"  I snarled out and she frowned at the bruise on her forearm.

"Yes.  One of the bandits grabbed me.  It's nothing Saphira.  Please.  Don't make this a large issue.  This is my request.  As your sister I ask you not to cause a fight again with the bandits."  Clove begged as it slowly began to rain.  I sighed and pulled her in for another hug.  She sank into the hug and our small party moved to the throne room.  We took turns waiting for one another to change into dry clothes and protecting one another.  Kyro, Kharis, and Clove were already in dry clothes and I jogged to Clove's room and looked in a bag I had kept in her room.  I pulled on a new pair of black boots and a pair of skintight leather pants.  I pulled on a loose black shirt with stitches sewn on the back.  From countless swords and daggers striking and biting through the material.  My war shirt.  I pulled my blue cape over it with the emblem of the Cerulean Beast.  The blue cerulean beast.  My beast.  My warrior.  And the reminder of where I come from, and what I was doing here in the first place.  Protect Clove.  Survive.  Fight.  I walked back to the hall and sat next to Clove who was sharing words with Kyro.  Both seemed closer and I was grateful for that.  The rain continued to pour outside, and the distant shouts outside in the courtyard.  Guards getting into positions and shouting at one another.  Kyro and Kharis went to bed and I followed Clove into her bedroom quarters.  Alesia was already taken care of.  In the stables and warm.  Comfortable enough.  I'd go join her in a few minutes.  But first, check on Clove.  She crawled into bed and held out a hand to me.  I sat on the edge of the bed and she seemed to relax.

"Stay?"  She mumbled and I smiled, took off my boots, unclasped my cape from around my throat, and slid into bed next to her.  She curled into my side and I hugged her and let her head rest over my heart.  Breathing slowed and she was asleep in a instant.  I let my mind wander and eventually fell asleep with worries of Clove being in danger and a major headache pounding in my temple from all the overwhelming thoughts.

"Saphira!  Wake up!  Something's at the gate!"  I opened my eyes and had my boots and cloak on in a flash.  A dangerous look in my eyes as I strapped on my weapons.  Not even noticing that I had removed them the night before.  Clove was dressed just as quickly in a light blue dress and soft slippers and we ran to the entrance.  Kharis and Kyro were standing in the rain.  Staring at a approaching figure.  Looks of horror and relief mixed in their expressions.  I stared out into the rain.  The color of blood standing out.  The clothing was clearly from Kyro and Kharis's kingdom.  Their royal family were the only ones allowed in that color.  As the figure approached I noted the figure.  Exhausted, pale, and older than Kyro and Kharis by a few years.  My age by the looks of it.  Long hair that was messy and untamed.

"Brother!"  I froze at the words.  Brother?  Kharis and Kyro had a brother?  WHAT!?  But there was Kharis hugging the older boy.  My goodness... three Crimson Line royals.  Cerulean save us.  Clove was staring with her mouth hanging open in shock.  I felt amused.  Surprise was on my face.  Also, as much as I hate to admit it because I should be hiding my emotions all the time, curiosity.  The new Crimson Line royal was curious.  I hadn't heard of a third Crimson Line royal.

This changes things.