Page 39 of Iron Hearts and Dragon Magic

8

The Fae

Fel didn’t understand much about this conflict with dragons, but he noticed that Tzaria and Risomu considered the dragon order a threat. Perhaps he should have asked why, which only added to the infinite list of questions hanging in his mind.

Soon seven people appeared inside the cave: four women and three men. One of the women, dressed in dark red leathers, was saying something in Fernian, and seemed quite angry. She was in her forties and had black hair tied in a tight braid, with unnatural bright blue eyes.

Tzaria replied, still speaking in Fernian, then started sending thoughts directly to Fel’s mind. “They fear you might be with the Boundless because they don’t know you. We’re telling them you’re from Aluria, but you must not let them know your mother was from Ironhold. It’s very important. They’ll question you, and if I’m correct, they’ll put you in a cage that prevents you from lying. It does not prevent you from skirting questions or giving misleading answers, though.”

He was almost asking her why, when she added, “Don’t send me thoughts. You don’t know how to block them from being overheard. Be careful, but don’t be afraid. We’re coming for you.” These thoughts came to him quite fast, in only a couple seconds in which these words wouldn’t normally fit, as if they had been his own thoughts crossing his mind in a flash.

Tzaria then turned to that woman who was staring at her. “He speaks only Alurian. And he’s not some random rogue dragon. He’s Ircantari’s son.”

Most of the newcomers took a sharp breath, likely stunned by the information. So this wasn’t the reason Tzaria and Risomu had been hiding him, or at least not the full reason.

The woman in dark red looked at Fel, then back to Tzaria, and spoke in Alurian, “Then you have no right to try to claim him. You, of all dragons.” She looked again at Fel and narrowed her eyes. “A halfling. And yet somehow he managed to swap forms without any training, out of his own volition.”

“I did.” Fel tried to send these words to them, unsure if he was being successful.

Tzaria then said, “Question him if you’re worried he’s lying, but don’t hurt him.”

The woman in red sneered. “I hardly think it’sushe has to be afraid of.” She then turned to Fel. “Come.” Her tone was friendly.

“I… can’t swap forms,” Fel tried to communicate to them.

The woman smiled. “We’ll fly, then. I’m Relia, one of the Dragon Eyes. You’ll be safe with us.” She turned to the group that had come with her and said something in Fernian, then turned to Tzaria and frowned. “Do not interfere with us. Or there will be consequences.” There was so much anger in her voice, even if it sounded that she was trying to contain it.

For a moment Relia and a young man disappeared, soon to be replaced by dragons. The woman had become a dark red dragon, like the colors she’d been wearing, and the man was a green dragon.

“Follow us,” Relia sent these words as a thought.

Fel glanced at Tzaria, who nodded as if encouraging him.

Relia flew out of the cave, then Fel followed. At least his wings were feeling better now. Behind them came the green dragon. Two more dragons joined them, then made a fire circle, through which they all flew. On the other side was another forest, but farther from the mountain range—if it was even the same one. It was like crossing the kingdom portals in Aluria, except that these were not stone buildings, but ephemeral fire rings.

Down below, a river cut the forest in two. Fel didn’t know if it was the same river he’d seen. So much portalling was making him disoriented.

Relia descended, then she landed on a tight clearing, part of it covered with the canopy of the surrounding trees. Fel had to be careful not to get scratched while reaching the ground. It was still strange for him to use this form, but he was thankful that flying came naturally to him, as if he’d always known it. Perhaps a part of him had indeed known how to fly all his life.

The green dragon was the last to land, and the two other dragons hadn’t followed them. It meant they weren’t afraid of Fel, if all they had sent with him were two escorts, including a woman who seemed important. They probably didn’t see him as the enemy, which was good. But then why had Tzaria and Risomu been running from them?

The green and red dragons swapped their forms to human. It took them less than two seconds, as if it required no effort at all. Hopefully Fel would learn how to do that trick too. He enjoyed the freedom of flying, the power of his fire, but didn’t want to remain a dragon forever. Seeing them swapping so easily gave him hope.

The woman traced a large circle on the ground by pointing her finger at it. Despite the distance, it created a faint line on the earth. Soon it felt cold and dark around him, but just for a moment.

When he looked around again, he was in a valley surrounded by a tall, steep gorge on one side, and steep mountains on the other, as if the valley had been carved out in a hole in the rocks.

Somewhat far from the ring, stood a city with about a hundred houses made of compact earth, with round ceilings. Many of them had huge doors. A few people and dragons walked on cobble-paved streets. A larger square building stood at the edge, near one of the rock walls. Made of white marble, it stood out among the darker houses. This was a peaceful city, where dragons lived, and all he could sense was tranquility and calm. A lovely place, really.

Fel, Relia, and that green dragon, now in human form, were standing in a circle surrounded by some small rocks, at some distance from the houses.

“This is our sanctuary,” Relia said, standing quite close to Fel. “We need to protect this place at all costs.” She then moved in front of him, so as to look into his eyes. “We’ll need to ask you some questions, but it’s just a matter of precaution. These are hard times, that’s all.”

“I understand.” Fel sent this as a thought and she nodded, meaning that she could hear him.

“Follow me, but not flying, walking.”

Walking felt strange and slow, but he did as he was told, and noticed three dragons flying in circles above them, as if to watch him. The woman led him in the direction opposite of the houses and came to an isolated building, also made from packed earth.

---