Curse of the Stars Book 1

Chapter 33

Chapter XXXIII

Bright, colourful banners wriggled like fish in the wind as Stygian and Turbulence sat atop two specially crafted pedestals in the Main City Square.

They were both adorned—with necklaces, with jewels, armbands and beads and gold paint and silk cloth. It felt all too human to be dressed in such a way, but as the hours had slid by and the King's firsthand man had thrown raja and beads at their feet before addressing the crowds to introduce the two of them, after a while Stygian had barely noticed the soft whispering and brushing of the scarves strung about her.

She wanted to ask Turbulence how much longer all this frivolity would last but she dare not interrupt with so much as a roar. She was afraid of the way the people would respond, the same people who had tried to kill her earlier. Would they try it again? Where did the loyalties of the hearts of Man truly lie?

The man, who must be a very important man, judging by the way the people hung off of every word he said, had babbled his human speech for a good two hours. Stygian was very intent on asking Turbulence later everything he had said, but she felt as if she already knew somewhat of the things he spoke. She had recognized a few words here and there. But because they stood out in such stark contrast to all the words she didn't yet know, she couldn't string enough sentences together to fully comprehend the man's message, or how it could possibly take so long to explain that Stygian was now living with Turbulence in his temple and thus was not to be shot at with arrows this time 'round.

In fact she was beginning to feel very bored with it all, and her thoughts had drifted as she lost focus on the couple words she did know streaming out of the man's mouth. She admired the great many flags over every structure, of all colours. They were colourful but blank, and contained no messages. No words.

Then there were those with images of wild animals and Stygian wondered to herself if they had some type of meaning. Some symbol of the City in which she now resided. She noticed how the people were very intent on the man, but more intent on her, their eyes filled with both fear and awe, curiosity and anger. She could tell a great deal about what the man was saying just by watching their expressions.

They weren't happy with the news they were receiving, but they were also amazed. The fear didn't leave their gazes, and some were accusatory, remembering their tussle in the streets. How she had destroyed that area of town. Many people had been frightened that day and likely news had traveled to the whole city by now. No wonder they hated her so much.

It wasn't my fault. She glared back at them. They had tried to kill her first. They had deserved everything that had befallen them.

But she could see too that they dare not speak out against the man, even though he was not the King himself. Which was another odd question. All this time, the King had not once shown his face. Stygian was getting tired of waiting for him to appear. She knew the city had one; where was he and why wasn't he the one speaking?

Turbulence was holding her head up very high and there was something proud and cocky in her gaze as she looked down on her people. She was the god of this city after all, and she never let anyone forget that.

Was there room for two?

Once again Stygian questioned what Turbulence wanted with her. Why she had invited her into her abode and had decided to become her teacher? Unlike everyone else Stygian had met, Turbulence could see right through the curse and into what she really was. A powerless, altogether ordinary dragon who honestly didn't pose much of a threat at all. And Turbulence, though she had agreed to help her read to find a way to lift the curse, had said from the very beginning that she thought Stygian was passing up a very good opportunity. For glory. For riches. For fame.