A Dragon's Vow (Memory)

Chapter II: The Sign

Each family that calls itself a grimleal is given a place to rest. This place is called a unit. Each unit houses one family. Each family is to produce at least one child, in hopes of reviving the Great Lord Grima. The Dragon will mark the one he has chosen with a brand. The child born with this brand shall become the vessel of the Wings of Despair. The child shall hold his heart. Each child born in the Grimleal is inspected for the brand. Each family is to present their child to the masked man.
The masked man stands in front of the door to unit 0419. He knocks on the door.
"You cannot hide your child from me forever," the masked man yells, "I know he is there. I have sensed his presence."
The masked man is met with silence. He grows angry.
"Open the door!" He demands, banging his fist on the door, "it's been 18 years! Is that not enough time for you to cherish your child?"
A quiet son is heard from inside. The masked man smiles, "the mark of the dragon is the highest honor a person can achieve among us. No harm shall befall your child if he has the mark."
"Liar!" A voice screams from inside. The door does not open.
"So that means that you have given birth to the perfect vessel," the man smiles coldly, "open the door, or I shall do it by force. You have no choice."
As if to prove his point, more footsteps approach the closed door. The masked man has called upon his friends.
The door opens slightly. Just enough to see the masked man and two other soldiers.
"I knew you would come around," the masked man said gently, "now let me see your child."
The man at the door hesitates. He thinks for a few minutes, then sighs, and opens the door. His wife lay on the floor, and the child is sitting by her.
"This is the extent you would go to?" The masked man said, disgusted, at the woman. She lay motionless. Her breathing was ragged.
"You knew she had a weak heart?" The masked man asked, kicking the woman aside, "I always thought my sister was useless. Maybe this is the one good thing she'll do in her life."
The masked man grabbed the boy by the wrist, yanking him up. He poked and prodded, searching the boy for the brand. He found it on his back, just below the nape of his neck.
"Yes," the man breathed, his fingers gently brushing over the mark, "tell me your name, boy."
"Validar," the boy replied, lot looking the masked man in the eyes.
"Come with me, boy," the masked man yanked on Validar's wrist.
"What are you going to do with him?" The boy's father asked.
"He shall become one with the fell dragon," the masked man replied, "his body shall become a host to our God."
"Will he die?"
"Perhaps."
The man looked down at his wife and sighed, "she wouldn't want this," he said.
"She has no say in the matter," the masked man scoffed, pulling the boy towards him.
"I year," the man pleaded, his voice full of guilt, "please."
"Why the sudden change of heart?" The masked man asked.
"She should be able to say goodbye to her child," the man replied softly. He looked his son in the eyes, "you agree, don't you?"
The boy was scared, his eyes were wide and he looked around frantically. He said nothing.
"Three months," the masked man snarled, "that's the longest I'll give you. A month for each pair of our Lord's eyes."
"Thank you," the father whispered, as the masked man threw the child at him.
The masked man left.
"Are you alright?" The man asked his wife, helping her up. She nodded, tears pricking at her eyes. She hugged her son, and continued to squeeze him, for she didn't know how much longer either of them had.
"Three months," the boy thought. His fingers brushed the back of his neck. He sighed.