12th day of the season of death 2448

- Hey? Azena questioned, realizing that Trish and Baldur were hesitating. We're going to save Sanah? Right?

- I'll follow where you go, the bodyguard confirmed. It's my duty to protect you.

The fortune teller remained silent despite the pressure Azena was putting on her.

- We'll go without you then, decided the impatient teenager.

On the one hand, she wanted to get rid of Trish. Since the invasion of her spirit, of her inner sanctuary, she felt angry with her. If it wasn't for her concern for her teammate's welfare, she would have punched her in the face.

- Come on Baldur, she said dryly after a moment of inactivity on Trish's part.

Before she could turn her heels, she saw Trish's entire body dissolve into a gaseous substance and turn into a dozen hawks. One of them uttered a cry that sounded strangely similar to the phrase: I'm sorry. The birds scattered and flew high into the sky. Without caring about those she left behind, the fortune teller set off in the direction of the mounts, probably to get Hortis back.

- By the White Woodruff! exclaimed the archer, blinking, dazzled by what she had just seen.

- Probably a shaman, Baldur noted.

- That conclusion makes sense to me. Shamans have strange spiritual powers, almost impossible to explain.

Suddenly, a presence that was both intimidating and reassuring came into the young dragon rider's mind. She almost fell backwards, momentarily losing her balance.

- My apologies for this sudden intrusion, but the hatchling is right, a cavernous voice growled in her mind.

- Ah, there you are, Turion, replied Azena to the purple wyrm that resided in the depths of her subconscious. Say, could you help me rescue Sanah?

Soon, Turion's powerful essence began to engulf the spirit of his host. Azena's body weakened and she fell to one knee.

- Gah, she cried out. Urgh... Stop! St-top!

Alarmed by the strange behavior of his teammate, Baldur approached her and examined her with concern. Fortunately, he did not notice the single purple scale that had appeared on her right thumb.

- I'm all right, she lied to him.

In an instant, Turion's presence vanished in a flash and Azena's discomfort ceased. The teenager concluded that he was not going to be able to help her. She was still too weak to endure him. She gritted her teeth, frustrated with herself. She had to master the element of life and quickly, but it was such a complex element, so different from the others.

- We've wasted enough time. Let's go.

She got up too quickly and staggered for her first few steps before she got used to the weight of her body. Baldur still seemed to be concerned, which was no surprise to the archer. The poor kid; he must not have understood what was happening to his teammate. All the same, he did not say anything and simply followed her.

As she made her way through the many tents, Azena glanced at her thumb, which had returned to normal. Reassured, she breathed a sigh of relief and devoted all her concentration to their search.

Outside, it was a mess. Clearly, the members of the Dragon's Blood had been informed of the squad's presence. There were screams, groans, orders being barked, rattling of boots and armor, and noises of iron striking against iron, indicating at least one source of combat. Where exactly? There were so many different sounds that Azena could not discern the location of the struggle. Whatever was going on, she hadn't noticed a dragon yet, which should have been obvious to the eye. Reaginn was probably too busy to send the signal. So it was up to her to take care of it.

- Shit, she growled.

A baby's cry pierced through the ruckus. Instinctively, Azena turned around, much to Baldur's surprise, and then she turned to the right. Her field of vision was obstructed by a half-shredded tent, but she knew that behind it was the baby and possibly Sanah as well.

- Shouldn't we give the signal? Baldur asked, right behind the teenager. The dragons could give us a much-needed advantage.

- But Sanah, Azena hesitated. We don't have time Baldur. We could lose her if we wait.

- There are far too many of them, the bodyguard replied.

He insisted which was out of the ordinary for him. He must have been worried because even though he was an expert in fighting, he was still human and had his limits.

- I can't lose another one of our brothers and sisters, Azena spat angrily. I won't allow myself to!

The emotions of the archer surfaced; she had a lot of regret about what had happened with Umah and Yuzia.

Another baby cry tore apart the chaos of noises that raged around the two companions. This desperate cry motivated Azena even more and she accelerated her run, leaving Baldur behind. The poor human lacked the speed and agility of a half elf and was losing ground. He called out to his partner, but she ignored him, too focused on her goal.

After turning another corner, the archer found the baby crying his eyes out in Sanah's arms. The herbalist was, from the corner of her eye, watching the same barbarian who had taken her with him earlier. The baby's father, seemingly dead, was lying at his feet.

On instinct, Azena grabbed her bow and arrow and prepared to shoot the ox-like muscled man. Only then did her target and Sanah saw her.

- Elysia be praised, said the herbalist with a sigh of relief.

The barbarian uttered a growl and then a battle cry which prompted Azena to threaten him further with her weapon, aiming directly between his eyes. Meanwhile, Baldur caught up with the teenager and analysed the scene.

- What happened? he asked.

- Her! shouted at the barbarian, pointing at Sanah.

Azena thought she understood that it was Sanah who had taken the life of the child's father.

- They were going to rape me! Sanah cried. I had no choice.

Between her fragile little fingers she held a half-empty bottle containing a viscous greenish-brown liquid. Azena immediately identified it as a lethal poison usually prepared by an alchemist. It acted silently at first, then attacked the heart and caused sudden death. To confirm this theory, she examined the corpse and noticed that the hand was clutching at the heart.

- Yep..., she thought. To think that Master Ruvior's lectures are useful in this situation...

She clearly remembered the assassin discussing it with his students during the second semester of her first year. He hadn't revealed how to concoct it; that was the alchemists' job, but he had explained its physical appearance and symptoms.

- The Kaki Death, Baldur murmured.

The barbarian moved quickly. He approached Sanah, then backed away as if he was trying to attack her, but without touching her. He seemed confused, unable to decide whether to attack or leave.

- Don't move! Azena ordered in a dry and imperious tone.

She followed him with her eyes, making sure she was still aiming at a deadly part of his body.

- One arrow and you die, she insisted.

The barbarian growled, utterly frustrated and seeming on the verge of panic. Finally, he pointed at the child and sniffed like an animal.

- What do you think, Sanah? Azena questioned, judging herself unfit to make a decision on the matter.

- This child is going to grow up to become a bloodthirsty warrior, replied the herbalist.

The half elf took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do now: her second kill for the sake of her squad and this baby. She frowned, concentrating on her target. She didn't want to make him suffer, so she had to aim well.

- Rahza'bin? Rahza! shouted the barbarian in a crude tongue.

He was losing patience; something had to be done quickly. Azena fired and hoped with all her heart that her arrow would stay on the right path. The barbarian realized what was happening and tried to avoid his death sentence. Baldur ran towards him, raising his two axes in case the enemy survived.

- Tokhùyl! shouted the barbarian who seemed to address the child.

He collapsed heavily to the ground as if he had been given a well-placed leg-hook. He squirmed like a snake for a long time before losing consciousness. Baldur pulled the arrow from his neck, wiped it off and brought it back to his owner. He, the barbarian, Sanah and even the baby were stained by the blood of the victim who had momentarily turned into a human fountain. With a trembling hand, Azena accepted the arrow and observed it for a moment. She took several deep breaths, realizing the act she had just committed. Her beating heart betrayed her outward appearance, which seemed calm.

- You must send the signal to the dragons, advised Sanah, who cleaned the child's cheek with her sleeve.

Azena nodded her head, put away her bow, and did so. While she gathered a large amount of air by swirling it around herself, her two companions watched her back. Sanah cradled the baby with one arm and held a dagger with the other. Baldur probed his surroundings looking for movement, his two axes in his hands.

Azena was almost ready to send the signal when a shadow passed in the corner of her vision and distracted her.

- Keep going, Sanah ordered. Have faith in our abilities.

The archer obeyed. She heard the distinct sound of iron striking against iron that came from where Baldur was positioned and then silence. Panicking, thinking her bodyguard had been hit, she turned her head.

- Good defense kid, complimented the newcomer with a honeyed voice that was all too familiar.

- Ruvior! exclaimed Azena, outraged by her captain. I almost had a heart attack!

Reaginn was indeed there in an offensive position as his dagger crossed iron with Baldur's right axe. The two warriors relaxed and congratulated each other on their fine performances.

- You're both complete idiots, Sanah snarled. Hey, we're not out of danger!

The sound of unknown boots seemed to approach, provoking an aggressive reaction from Baldur, who immediately rushed to the source of the disturbance.

- It's me! shouted a man.

Baldur stopped dead in his tracks.

- Morcan, the boy said calmly.

- Well yes, replied the irritated elementalist. Our such gallant captain sprinted away and left me in his dust.

- I thought I heard Azena's voice, explained the captain. You were too slow to react.

- I had one of those hairy gorillas on my ass!

- I'm sorry, simply said the tracker in a neutral tone.

Morcan lowered his arms, discouraged by his captain's attitude.

- He doesn't care... Of course he doesn't.

Meanwhile, Azena had a chance to send the signal. Slightly out of breath, she sat cross-legged. She didn't have a moment to catch her breath when a firm grip grabbed her collar and lifted her up from behind.

- What the...? What's going on? she shouted as she struggled.

- Calm down, Reaginn ordered dryly.

He let go of her and began to stare at her sternly. She stood up and looked at him angrily. How dare he lift her like that without her permission?

- Don't sit down, Reaginn said. The enemy is looking for us. Also... Where have you been? There was an ambush. Me and Morcan are lucky that we escaped with our lives. You were supposed to send the signal if we were spotted!

At the last sentence, his tone had greatly gone up, as if he was on the verge of yelling. He realized this quickly and went silent.

Azena wasn't sure what to say to him; she had failed. She had let her emotions and impulse take over and it could have gone wrong.

- She saved me, Sanah said.

Reaginn turned to the herbalist with raised eyebrows, surprised at her claim.

- It's true, Baldur continued with rosy cheeks, probably out of shame. I reacted too slowly... I-I thought too much... I'm sorry captain.

Reaginn's facial features softened and he turned his attention to the child Sanah was carrying in her arms.

- I killed her father, the herbalist explained. There was no other choice... I was their prisoner and I had a vial of Khaki Death on me... So... I-I used it... The second one was so shocked and couldn't understand how his companion had suddenly died, so he didn't want to come near me. He also refused to leave because I had Tokhuyl with me... I was in a very awkward position. Azena arrived and finished him off with a single arrow.

At this boast, Azena felt her face overheated with embarrassment. For a moment, Reaginn's eyes widened as if he was impressed and then he regained his severity.

- Tokhuyl?

- The child, said Sanah who seemed a little shy. I would like to adopt him. You see, he would be surrounded by wars, blood and horrible events in this environment.

Azena thought that Reaginn was finally going to lose his temper, but instead it was Morcan who had become pale. His lower lip trembled as if he was trying to say something, but he kept his silence. He knew that dragon riders were not supposed to have families or lovers; he couldn't react without revealing his romantic relationship with Sanah, which was just beginning.

- Discuss it with Grand Master Terenas, Reaginn informed. It is not my place to make such a decision. At worst, we can escort him to a family that will accept him. But be prepared that it will probably be a refusal.

He turned to the others and began to explain their next strategy: hide to fake their retreat, wait for the dragons to arrive, and complete the mission quickly and aggressively. Hence the squad lurked in an abandoned tent and submerged themselves in shadows that Morcan manipulated. Several times, a sentry came to check the dwelling for invaders, but he saw nothing.

Little by little, the chaos of the camp receded and finally dissipated. This calm was hellish for Azena because she knew it was only temporary. Soon she would be thrown into battle where her life would be in danger once again and in such a short time. Her nerves were threatening to give. She had had enough of all this blood, all these massacres, all these deaths, including the one she had caused with her own hands. The worst part of it all was that she could not express herself: she was at the mercy of their delicate situation. She had to keep quiet. They were not to be spotted.

✦×✦

An eternity seemed to have passed when at last a beastly roar shook the ground beneath her feet. There was no doubt that it was a dragon. No creature was great enough to do this kind of effect simply with their cry. And it had to be an adult.

Reaginn signaled the others not to move.

Silence. Then a second roar, this one less powerful, but still fierce in its own way. A third one, this one was still distant, but it was familiar. It was Tyrath. Azena was certain of it.

The constant sound of wings beats became more and more distinguishable. Anybody would have run and pissed his pants, but Azena felt an absolute confidence strengthening her soul. The camp once again became total anarchy. There was general panic.

- Come on! Reaginn ordered.

Morcan released the shadows and almost collapsed from exhaustion, but he followed the others out of the tent. Azena was waiting for her turn to leave when a violent breeze shook the rudimentary dwelling in which she found herself. The dragons were here.

When Azena had a chance to get out of the tent, she found the camp half destroyed. The terrain itself had changed by Sidon's formidable performance, who kept raising and lowering the ground beneath the feet of the barbarians. The brown dragon was small, but he clearly had guts. He could manipulate his element while smashing the bones of an enemy with his skull, which was stronger than any dragon scale. Tyrath and Sevia swept everything in their path in gigantic gusts of wind. Maratid inspected the situation, patrolling high in the sky like a vulture. Finally, Telyx landed near the squad.

- They were all very angry, he explained remorsefully.

- The destruction of this camp is welcomed, Reaginn replied to Azena's surprise.

- That's what Sevia assured us, but I had my doubts... It's a little... radical in my opinion...

The prowler smirked as if the actions of his dragoness pleased him.

- Anyway, you and Morcan will find Yuzia and free her. I know she's somewhere north of the camp.

- I want to go with Telyx and Morcan, Azena confessed as she walked forward.

Reaginn frowned and thought about it for a moment before responding.

- You take the release of these two to heart, don't you?

The half-elf nodded and felt a bead of sweat roll down her forehead, probably due to stress.

- Go ahead, but don't do anything without Morcan and Telyx's consent. Do you understand me? the captain grunted.

- Yes Captain! Azena exclaimed.

Another roar shook the earth beneath their feet. At this sound, Reaginn mumbled a few incomprehensible words, then fixed his gaze on Azena, Telyx and Morcan.

- It was Sevia, Morcan said.

- Indeed, replied the captain. She seems to want us to join her. Go, all three of you. It's probably important.

The elementalist straddled his black dragon and helped Azena up and behind him. The archer clung to her companion and their mount swooped up to the sky in a powerful flap of its wings. She was still struggling to get used to the wet and musty smell of the black dragons, but she did not react out of respect for the noble Telyx. His scales were slimy despite the dryness of the desert. It was impressive.

Telyx made a few rounds over the camp before he saw the grey dragoness tearing apart a huge tent. A barbarian came from behind her and stuck his huge battle-axe into her broad tail. She made a plaintive groan, turned around and propelled the warrior into the air with a violent strike of her paw. The noise of cracking confirmed that the warrior had died instantly, his spine broken on impact.

- Well done Sevia, complimented Telyx who landed alongside the large female. This human shouldn't dare to touch us!

- Help me get rid of this strange infernal cage, she ordered in an irritated grunt.

At this command, Telyx froze and sniffed repeatedly.

- I feel it too, he said.

- What is it? Morcan asked.

- It's Yuzia under that strange material you call a tent.

Azena's heart seemed to stop for a good minute at this discovery. Finally, she was about to achieve one of her goals: to free Yuzia. Smiling, she let herself be lulled by her accomplishment and began to tear the tent apart with her dagger.

- She should be able to free herself from it, Morcan remarked. There is something more here...

With teamwork, the two dragons and riders stripped Yuzia of her envelope only to discover that she was nailed to the ground, her movements completely obstructed by several chains as wide as a human's torso that snaked around her body. She couldn't even open her mouth, an addition that was probably new since the squad had heard her roar earlier. This sight devastated Azena, who knew how much these creatures valued their freedom and pride.

When the dragon saw Azena, her eyes brightened slightly and she shook her head vividly in vain. Impatient, she twisted her body in spite of her difficult situation. She sniffed aggressively, blowing shadows from her nostrils and began to scratch the sand with her front claws. Her efforts yielded very limited results.

- Shadow and wind, said Telyx as he watched the chains. It's not enough. If only we had a red dragon with us... We could use the fire to melt the malicious iron.

- You and Sevia are powerful, said Azena. I mean physically.

- And?

- Lift the chains!

Telyx scratched his chin with a claw, thinking about the teenage girl's proposal.

- I'm certainly not the strongest physically, but I'm still a dragon. It could work, especially with me and Sevia working at it together.

- I approve, said Sevia with a smirk. If we can't break them, we can tear them out of the ground!

A small group of barbarians turned a corner and saw the group preparing to free Yuzia. They roared and charged, their weapons raised to the sky barely lit by the moon that was growing darker and darker, almost completely black.

- Protect us! ordered Sevia. We must not be interrupted!

The gray dragoness and the slightly younger Telyx each grabbed a chain on the opposite side of the other, took flight and pulled upwards. Immediately, the effect was felt. The hooks, which had been driven deep into the fresh sand, began to give way.

- Come on Telyx! encouraged Sevia passionately.

The hook on the black dragon's side had reacted less; after all, he was not as strong as her. He redoubled his efforts and flapped his wings furiously.

- That's it Telyx! barked Azena.

- Pay attention to the enemy! Morcan warned.

The elementalist had just blinded the barbarian who was about to strike her with his bastard sword by engulfing his face in a cloud of shadows. The warrior swung his weapon, which missed its target by a hair. Azena felt the gentle breeze near her right ear and counterattacked by driving her dagger into her attacker's muscular leg. Not letting him react, she summoned a gust of wind and pushed him back. The warrior struck his allies and impaled one of his sword in his erratic movements.

Azena didn't like the idea of killing, so she managed to use the wind to her advantage so that her enemies wounded their allies. If they lost their lives, it wasn't directly at the hands of the half elf. It wasn't much better, but it helped her to cope a little with what she had to commit to for her survival.

As the last enemy fell, Yuzia's chains were finally released from the ground, letting the brown dragon move of her own free will. She got rid of the iron muzzle that prevented her from opening her mouth and uttered a terrifying roar that suggested she had suffered greatly during her stay with the Blood of the Dragon. She finished off the two barbarians that Morcan and Azena had simply weakened to the point of impotence by driving a claw directly into their skulls.

- T-that wasn't necessary, the half elf muttered.

Yuzia turned her head towards her and roared again.

- Don't tell me what to do humanoid! she spat vehemently.

Azena was shaken by the dragoness' intense reaction, but she also remembered the softness she showed towards her rider.

- Forgive me, Yuzia. It was not my place to make such a remark to you.

- Certainly not, she replied, this time a little more calmly.

She closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, probably to regain her center, her serenity. No one disturbed her during this time.

When she became more energized, she focused her attention on the half elf. She brought her snout close to her hair and sniffed a few times.

- Go away, she whispered loudly enough for Telyx, Morcan and Sevia to hear.

- What do you mean? Telyx questioned, tilting his head to one side in confusion.

Yuzia sniffed again, this time at greater length.

- Something bigger is at stake here. Leave, now!

- B-b-but Umah, Azena said in a moment of weakness.

- I can handle this alone, the dragoness hissed. Get out of here! We're running out of time!

She was terribly insistent and that worried Azena greatly. Should she listen to her? Should she report this information to her captain? Should she stay in spite of the warning? She looked out for Tyrath, afraid for his safety. The young silver drake looked safe and sound. He was watching the camp from the sky with Maratid. Everything seemed to be under control.

- I don't know what you mean, Azena confessed as she paid attention to Yuzia.

- I don't know what's going on, Yuzia informed impatiently. Not exactly... But I know that the Dragon's Blood has prepared something for you and it's certainly not good.

Morcan approached and spoke:

- It's all right, Yuzia. We have the situation under control. What can they do against an entire troop of dragons and riders?

- Don't you think they anticipated this, idiot? Yuzia growled.

- Touché, said Azena.

- So... go away, Yuzia repeated. And Azena, I must confess to you that...

She made what sounded like a hiss, but it ended in a roar. She wiggled around as if she had been burned all over the place. Azena searched for the source of her torture, but she didn't detect the presence of anyone suspicious.

- Where? Where!? she said, angrily.

The dragoness calmed down, but her face was twisted by the pain. She could not speak. Clearly, she was still a victim.

- You came, said a deep voice with a relatively strong accent.