novelraw Chapter 1427 - 26 : Separated
Chapter 1427 - 26 : Separated
*Rhys*
The tension continued to build. I felt the pressure of the hands pressing down on me strengthen.
I was attempting to come up with a plan on how I could shift, grab Saoirse, and get away or hide when Axureon finally spoke again.
"Come now. While I may not have invited him, Prince Rhys is still a guest here," he said, waving his hands at the people on me. The pressure immediately lifted. "Prince Rhys, I hope you take this as a sign of good faith and reconsider the decisions you have made."
I continued to lay there for a moment, worried that as soon as I moved they would all pounce again. The vague attempt at a plan was still running around my brain. However, my eyes fell on Saoirse once more.
"She is not injured, simply overwhelmed," Axureon said, noticing my gaze no doubt. "If I promise that you can stay and monitor her treatment here, will you agree to listen to my wisdom and counsel?"
The relief of his words stating she wasn’t injured was replaced by skepticism and confusion. I slowly began to stand up, feeling as if I couldn’t have a serious conversation while lying on the ground.
The five people who had pinned me stood close by as if worried that I might snap at any point and start attacking them. I couldn’t blame them, especially when the two I had taken down to begin with joined their ranks.
Once I was on my feet, I leveled my eyes with the bald dragon man in front of me. On one hand, his offer sounded legitimate and would offer a reasonable exchange. I could stay there with Saoirse, and I could learn more information.
However, something didn’t feel right about him. I stared harder, trying to unwrap the secret that was him. The only thing I got was a strange sense of distrust. Maybe that was residual from the threat he had only given me a couple of days ago.
"I will explain everything," Axureon reiterated as I remained silent.
I continued to stare at him but finally nodded. Honestly, I didn’t really have another option.
"Very well," I admonished.
I started to walk toward Saoirse, but Axureon intercepted me. My eyes burned as I stared at the dragon. He looked surprised at first.
The crimson color that appeared in my eyes with strong emotions was startling to most people, so his reaction did not waver me. I began to walk toward her again, but he moved again. This time, he was more prepared.
"You cannot get too close to her at the moment. It’s not safe," Axureon said, putting his hands up as a sign of openness. "You will be allowed to follow her progress and treatment, but for both of your safety, you will not be able to be together."
"What are you talking about?" I spat, unable to keep the emotions of him standing between us out of my voice.
"Saoirse has awakened her fire magic," Axureon stated as if commenting on the weather.
"Fire magic?" I asked slowly.
Axureon sighed. "Yes, as I said before, I will explain it all if you give me a moment. But yes, she has fire magic. And for a newbie with powers, the number one thing they need to learn is to control their emotions. I would assume the emotions are strong between you two, based on how you risked yourself to follow her here, and those strong emotions could lead to accidents."
Fire magic... Emotions... I wondered what on earth was going on.
My gaze flickered to Saoirse. I squared my shoulders before looking back at the man. It didn’t matter what was going on. Either way, I would not be able to leave Saoirse. That truth scared me but also strengthened my resolve at the same time.
"As you wish," I said with a small bow of my head. I watched as they gathered her and carried her off with some whispered instructions from Axureon.
"You must be exhausted from the flight," he said. "Why don’t you follow me to my abode, and we will get you sorted?"
I nodded again. There was no need to argue with them. If I wanted Saoirse and me to get out of this alive, it would take some cooperation.
In a daze, I followed him to a small home built into the rock face of the peak behind it. Axureon led me in and showed me to the shower and small bedroom, where he took out a spare set of clothes for me. The clothes I was wearing were shredded because of the rock climb and flight on a hard, scaly surface.
I had to admit that showering helped warm me up and feel more alert. By the time I put on the extra clothes, I felt like a whole new man. Regardless of that, my mind still hadn’t left Saoirse or where she went.
There was a light knock on the bathroom door. I walked over to open it. Instead of Axureon, a round, older woman was on the other side.
"Sir Axureon has asked you to join him for dinner," the woman said. "Follow me."
And I thought wolves didn’t have patience.
I followed her, dedicated to my mission of compliance. Plus, I found myself hoping that Saoirse might be in attendance as well, despite what Axureon had said about not being able to be around her.
My hopes were quickly extinguished when I entered a small dining area with a small table set for two. I sighed but continued forward. At least this would be my opportunity to discover more about the dragon man and these people.
"Welcome, please have a seat," Axureon greeted me, already sitting at one end of the table.
"Where is Saoirse?" I asked.
I knew he wouldn’t answer, but I couldn’t help but ask. There were still so many questions I had, and it was hard to keep them all in.
Axureon put his hand up. "I know you must have many questions, and I will answer them. However, I have some questions of my own as well, so I ask that you sit quietly and listen to my truth, and then I shall listen to yours."
"Very well," I replied, biting my tongue as I prepared to listen and not interrupt.
I managed to sit and listen to him as he told me his history of how he arrived in our world, and how he had taken Saoirse and introduced her to her dormant powers. More questions popped into my head, but I held them back.
The food sat in front of me, completely forgotten as I continued to listen. When he mentioned the evil Dragon Lord Pyroth, my mind started to whirl. However, I found myself worrying more about Saoirse’s involvement in the upcoming conflict than myself.
I was afraid for her.
Axureon began to talk about the training he had set up for Saoirse in the valley and what she would undergo while learning how to control her powers. I noticed that he never told me where she was or where she would be training. It was clear he still did not want me around her.
"And what does Saoirse think of all this?" I asked, unable to hold back any longer.
"She doesn’t have much of a choice now," Axureon answered. "With her powers awakened, she cannot safely return to her home. She might be hesitant about the role she will play in this war, but she will turn around eventually. Saoirse is not the type of woman to run from a fight, especially to protect her people."
I held back a growl at his familiar way of talking about her. He looked so impressed by her, and the look made a twist of possessiveness crawl through my skin. His words made me question his real intentions for bringing her to this place.
Yet, he wasn’t wrong.
The fiery Saoirse I knew would never be able to leave with her people in danger. She would do anything in her power to fight for and protect them. And it turned out that her power might be greater than we had all ever imagined.
"And what of Keelana?" Axureon asked. "How is she faring among your people?"
"I’m not sure," I admitted. "She still has not awakened since our encounter. While trying to protect her eggs, she seems to have fallen very sick. The healers have not been able to help her."
Axureon sighed. "She has been away from the energy source of our homeland for too long. If she isn’t brought to the valley soon, Keelana and her eggs will perish."
"What?" I asked in shock. "Will they die?"
"Yes."
I pondered his words, trying to think of a solution. I didn’t want Keelana to get injured or die, but at the same time, she was our only leverage at the moment. As open as Axureon was being, I wasn’t sure if I could trust him. He could be lying for all I knew.
If I gave him Keelana and the eggs, there was a chance he attack and destroy the village. The possibility was high enough that I didn’t feel comfortable just handing them over. There had to be another way.
"Before Keelana and the eggs will be allowed to go anywhere, the king will have to be made aware of the presence of dragons and the threat the Pyroth poses if he does cross over in search of his mate and their babies," I said finally.
"Hm," Axureon said slowly. Instead of sounding angry, he sounded contemplative.
"The best option, I think, would be if you flew to the royal city of Egoren with me as an escort so you could speak to King Xander directly," I continued. "It would be hard for him to refuse you in person."
"I am fine speaking with your king," Axureon said, surprising me with his willingness. "We may need your help in the upcoming days anyway. I can share critical intel about the threat Pyroth poses and his plans to cross into this realm."
"Great." I felt relieved at his easy acceptance.
"However, we will not be able to leave right away," Axureon said. "I ask that you allow me to prepare an amulet that will help Keelana and give her enough strength for when we move her and her three precious eggs back to this dragon sanctuary. It will help to get her back on her feet and keep the baby dragons safe when they hatch."
"That is a reasonable request. I will grant that," I said with a nod. "And I will make a request of my own. I want to be taken to Saoirse."
"You know I cannot allow that," Axureon said. "She needs to train in solitude."
She wouldn’t be in solitude. Someone would be there training her, so I wondered why couldn’t I be there as well. The uneasy feeling that Axureon was hiding something from me returned.
Was there another reason why he would keep Saoirse from me? Was he really worried about me, or was there something she would tell me he hadn’t? Or had he taken her against her will?
Or, worst of all, was he trying to keep me away so he could move in on Saoirse himself?
Either way, it would be risky to trust the ancient dragon. I looked down at my plate and picked up my fork so I could take a bite. I knew it was risky to trust him, but I didn’t see any other option.
I said to myself, “Don’t worry Saoirse. I will find you on my own, and together we will leave.” I was not sure how I would make it true, but I knew that somehow I would.