Dawn of The Dragon

Chapter 4: Peru

Lowering her seat on the plane, Kalera closes her eyes, visualizing the baby from the crystal.

"Who are you?"

Zoran taps her hand to wake her up. "How are you feeling?" he asks, while lifting her hand to his lips.

Muah.

Then lowers her hand as she leans into him. "What happened to you inside of that crystal?"

Kalera tells him about what she saw, and the connection she felt to the baby.

"Do you think the baby was ever real?" he asks.

"I think so."

"And the voice?"

"It was male, and I felt a sense of dread when it spoke," Kalera admits.

"The feeling was one I felt when Phea, a friend, took Xavgon into her hands back in Zaylen, and I watched as she burned. She touched the egg to prove that only a Dawn could touch it with bare hands. When I lifted the egg, I was more afraid than I was of Ager at that moment. But nothing happened to me. I didn't burn. Everyone in the room kneeled before me, calling me 'Palera Dawn.' But I didn't want it. I didn't want any of it. I've never admitted that before just now."

Zoran puts his arm around her, thinking about the weight she carries, and how he would do anything to ease her burden. How many people had she seen die in Zaylen? Did she kill anyone herself? What must it be like to love a dragon as her own?

He has left home for a reason, and he will not rest until they find the cave.

"You're not alone," he whispers.

"Thank you," she replies.

Turning to Musfall, Kalera asks what he thinks may have happened to the crystal, but he cannot be sure. He is actually far more interested in where the crystal originated. And he's worried about her especially, because of Xavgon's reaction right before she was sucked inside. An energy source of that magnitude could not go undetected and then vanish without a trace. It's simple physics.

Kalera closes her eyes again, this time focusing on Xavgon. The seven-hour flight reminds her of riding him across the city. She smiles, remembering the wind on her face.

Tap!

"We've arrived," Zoran says, as Musfall stands and yawns, forgetting to cover his mouth.

Zoran waits about thirty minutes for Rome to be released after gathering his luggage. Musfall has already booked a suite at the Marriott in Lima, as well as a guide for their visit to Machu-Picchu in the Andes Mountains. It's a holy place, he assures them, and he believes any connection to Gros will be found there.

Upon arrival at their hotel, Zoran decides to take Rome for a walk, but Kalera and Musfall do not think they should go wandering around separately. Instead, they can all walk Rome together after checking in. After twenty minutes, Musfall receives the key cards and they hurry to their room.

It is quite exquisite, and Kalera is not surprised, because Musfall is a man of great taste.

"Mother, your thoughts are wise," Xavgon says after hours of silence.

Kalera acknowledges him realizing if Ager is back on the throne, the realm will be extremely dangerous. She does not want to risk Zoran and Musfall's lives.

Once we find the cave, we will continue to Zaylen without them, but I will not tell them until the moment is right.

I think it's best for you to be honest with them immediately. Do not allow them to believe they will accompany you when they will not.