We flew to the castle where everything was in turmoil. About fifty guards stood at the gate. "Halt! Who goes there?" asked one gate keeper as we approached. I pulled out my necklace with the family seal on it. "It is I. Eighth September. I have received news of my father's death. I have come to take my throne." I called up. The drawbridge creaked open, and the guards let my riders and I pass. Recognition lit some of their faces as they recognized the girl who had once played in the courtyard. Soon enough, I had the fire dragon chained in the dragon stable and the girl on the floor of castle's tower. Natas, Toser, Alice and I entered when she woke up, her legs and hands tied. "You," I said. "Up." The girl locked eyes with me and rolled onto her feet. "Natas, undo the girl's feet." I commanded. Soon, she was standing normally. "So,I believe you were given a rather...generous offer by my Shadows. Join us or die. I think I'll take it a little further. You will tell us everything you know about the Riders. If you do not speak of your own free will, we will force it out of you. And then, depending on how well you hold up and how loyal you prove to be to either side- you may join us or die." I said. I pulled out my knife. It was still crusted with dried blood. I cleaned my nails with it , my gaze never leaving her. "We'll start with a simple question, hm? Who are the most powerful riders, and what are their fears?"
I closed my eyes. She just had to ask that, didn't she? I took a deep breath and opened my eyes. I started naming off the riders, starting with Manarian and about five or six others. "And me," I finished. I tried telling her their fears but I honestly didn't know anything, apart from mine, which was to lose my dragon and end up alone.
The girl watched me, pointing the dagger towards me. "Anything else?"
I hesitated, noticing my dagger in the hands of Toser, the other boy. I didn't know much else apart from the fact that the elders knew about the king. I briefly wondered how she would react and then decided to just tell her.
"The elders," I said and fell back against the wall. "They know about you killing the king."
Natas hung his head while the girl stared at me and then she swore. I watched as the other girl grinned. Outside, I could hear their dragons.
"Damn it," she muttered and turned away.
"Advanced warning," the boy called Toser said.
I looked around, finally realising where I was... In a tower, with no dragon. I couldn't even feel Roshan.
"Where's my dragon?" I asked. The white-haired girl froze and a second later she laughed. Natas shot me a look that said Shut up. I took his advice and slid down the wall into a sitting position.
No use just standing there, she could kill me...but then she'd lose what I had. Then again, she have Natas but I doubt he remembered many of the riders still at the training grounds. Well, I thought and stared at the floor of the tower. He remembered me.
((And the turning dark side begins?))
"With friends like you, who needs a medical license?" - Paimon, Aether's Heart
“It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” - Grace Hopper.
Eighth- The girl was cooperating well... more so than I expected. But she obviously wanted nothing more than her dragon back. Something she would not get.
So, the elders knew of us? Well, it would have been inevitable but I had hoped for a little more time. They were probably getting ready to fight already. I turned to Toser.
"We will attack in two days's time. We won't give them a chance to prepare." I turned back to the girl. "What is their typical battle strategy? Do they line the strongest in front? Do they attack from the sides? Do they surround?"
This girl looked strong.But she would have to earn my trust before she could see her dragon. And then, perhaps I would let her fight with us if she proved truly loyal. If not... I glanced at my blade.
I felt a headache coming on. Geez, this girl was so demanding. I listened as she started with the battle plans, and then she addressed me.
"I never practiced their strategies," I muttered. "Roshan and I always had our own. She's fast-we were always scouts. If they are to attack then they will try to draw you out into the open."
I was still staring at floor. Silence greeted me for a moment and I looked up. The girl was looking at her dagger. I swallowed, knowing full well that she'd use it if she had to.
"Watch out for Manarian and his dragon," I warned. "And Bree, Adaer-all the ones I named and their dragons. Some of them are fast, others strong." Manarian was the oldest of us, if my memory was correct.
"Is that all?" she asked and looked towards me, her eyes had gone black. I couldn't answer, my mouth had gone dry and my throat-and not to mention my voice-wouldn't work. I nodded and returned to staring at the floor.
I looked up again when I heard movement and saw the girl advancing on me, knife posed to strike. Ah, hell, I thought. She's actually going to torture me, isn't she? I was proved right when she laid the blade on my wrist, a somewhat hungry look to her eyes.
"Please," I whispered, "don't." But she did it anyway. I screamed and heard an echo of my dragon screaming in my head. Didn't she know that if she hurt me, she hurt my dragon too? She twisted the knife. Yes, she knew.
"With friends like you, who needs a medical license?" - Paimon, Aether's Heart
“It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” - Grace Hopper.
I sighed. I had really wanted to fight someone. But of course I obeyed Natas. They came back with Zara, I think I remember her, and a glared at her. Grinning slyly I laughed. I fell into step with Natas and whispered "What shall we do first?"
Natas: I left after Eight started questioning Zara. I honestly didn't care what she did, as long as there wasn't too much blood involved. I couldn't fully object any blood, that would just make me a hypocrite. Alice asked me what to do and I looked up towards the sky. A storm was rolling in. "Don't know, Alice." I shrugged and ruffled my hair, not being able to tear my throughts away from what might be going on in that room. Eight was really intimadating and rather forceful, the very thing that made her the right person for the throne. Im glad she was on my side. I heard Alice grunt and something hit me in the arm. Forgetting my surroundings and who I was with, I threw out fear in all directions. Alice dropped to her knees with a thud. I swore to myself before helping her up. "Sorry," I mumbled while running a hand through my hair. "Reflex." She smiled up at me wearily.
I laughed loudly as the girl's wrist began to bleed. Would she fight back? No. She simply grimaced, obviously thinkng only of her dragon. I looked at her frightened face. "So, Zara. You can't go back. So now it's either join us or die, yes? I wonder how loyal you'd be..." I placed the tip of my knife delicately on her forehead and lightly drew the number eight. I wasn't a deep scratch, just one that would leave a scab for a week or two. "There. That suits you much better." I said. I heard a screetch, one loud enough to reach the top of the castle. The girl trembled. "Oh, my, my, my. Is that your little dragon?" I asked, gazing happily at the fresh blood on my knife. "Ah. But he's not fighting. Just waiting." I looked at the girl, into her eyes. I pushed fear into her mind, enough to make me tired. Nobody could withstand my questions when they were this petrified. "So, my dear girl. If I let you join my riders, will you always be loyal? No sneaking off to your friends?" I asked, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from showing weakness. I hadn't used so much of my power in a long time. She sobbed. "Yes. I'll be...loyal." she croaked. I smiled. My work here was done. I released the fear in her mind and walked out, leaving the door unlocked. I stopped one of the castle guards in the hallway. "When the girl in the tower calms down and stops bleeding, untie her and take her to her dragon." I said. She was one of us now.
**Zara's dragon is a she, not a he. Easy mistake**
Zara:
I started sobbing, now curled up on my side. "Yes," I croaked, trying not to look at her. "I'll be...loyal."
I felt the fear ebb away and then her footsteps as she left. I could hear Roshan struggling but it was if I was far away.
I was still curled up hours later when someone walked into the room. I wasn't aware of the dried blood on my face or my bleeding wrist. I was too busy thinknig of what to do later. Roshan's voice was weak as she told me to hold on...but I wasn't really listening.
"With friends like you, who needs a medical license?" - Paimon, Aether's Heart
“It's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission.” - Grace Hopper.
I fell to my knees in pain when Natas let out his fear. It peirced my gut like a sword. He quickly helped me up and mummbled "Sorry. Reflex." I looked up at him and smiled faintly. The pain in my stomach was still there but not nearly as much. I placed my hand on his shoulder and said "It's okay Natas. You've done that since we were kids, I'm used to it." He shook his head and said nothing.
I stopped walking and stopped him too "Natas, What's wrong." He shook his head "Nothing." I felt myself frown. Not letting go of him I said "Natas, you know I know you better than that."
**Okay, since no one is posting for the "good side" then I'm just going to speed things up over there so we can get some conflict. xD**
BRYSTIANNE and NUKPANO
"What!?" She exclaimed as the Elders finished telling everyone of Eighth had just done. She stood up and Nuk eyed her with the same horrified and determined look on his face.
"We need to prepare for battle then! They will come for us, I now they will, and we need to destroy them!" Bree shouted.
Everyone was looking at her, most nodding in agreement. Nuk bowed his head to her to show he was ready to fight at her very command.
"Please," she spoke to an Elder now. "Let me scout them. Nuk was one of the fastest dragons in training. There's no way I'd let them catch us! Let me see what they've got prepared."
The Elders looked down at her. Bree was tiny and fragile looking, but she was stronger than they gave her credit for. And she had a plan. She and Nuk together, well, they were a deadly, dangerously fast team.
"We do need that advantage," one sighed.
"Then give us a chance," she urged. "We're ready. Plus their is a huge storm brewing and only storm dragons and their riders will be able to ride through that without being fazed."
They looked at each other and nodded. "Of course. But Brystianne, be careful. You are not invincible and neither is Nukpano. Please, you are a very promising team and we're only letting you go because we know you can make it back alive. Don't take too many risks and be quick."
Bree smiled, brightly and bravely, flattered at the obvious compliments. She knew that Nuk and Bree had a kind of bond few riders could achieve. Even if they did argue.
"C'mon Nuk," she whispered. He looked at her suddenly.
"Promise me that you'll be careful, Bree. Don't worry about me, because I am strong enough to take care of myself but...sometimes you risk yourself when it would be better to risk me," he growled, low in her ear.
Bree rubbed her hand down his gray-blue body. "I need you Nuk. It's better to risk me then you. I'm replaceable."
He gave her a dark look that told her he disagreed in a way that said he needed her too. Bree smiled softly at him and hopped on his back, ready to ride.
**Does Adaer and Lupria want to come? XD**
Hermione, shut your ungodly, lopsided mouth and quit interrupting! 20 points from Gryffindor. You know, for the brightest witch of your age you can sure be a dumba** sometimes. *smiles* 10 points to Dumbledore!
((actually, whitetiger, do you mind slowing it down jussst a bit? I guess just you can come for now, but don't send anyone else, eh? The Shadows are still settling down.))
