Chapter 13

Looking around for anyone following him, Cain clutched the bundle of sticks and log he stole from his fathers home. Over the past few weeks, the journey between the cave and the house became a daily routine. Never would he sleep in his own bed, but a bed made of hay and bush found around the forest he placed next to Kryn. It was cold and rough, but it was peaceful, it was calm, and he was with someone who actually cared for him. Her warmth was all he needed.

He entered the cave and skipped along the rocky floor to their camp. Kryn stood over a fire she created, her scales blazing beautifully against the crackling flames. Cain laid the wood on a dry patch of rocks, picking out a long, sturdy stick from the pile. After Cain handed Kryn the stick, she pierced the torn corpse of a goat she had pillaged from one of the farms in Cain’s village. As she placed it over the fire, turning the rotisserie with a mechanism they created together with scraps and sticks, Cain noticed her half was sitting behind her untouched.

“Are you not hungry?” Cain asked.

“On the contrary, my dear. My stomach cries out for a hardy meal. However, I would be remiss if I were to allow you to dine alone.”

His face felt weird. It contorted in an odd shape he was unfamiliar with. Something that felt vaguely familiar from days long passed, and never felt when around his father. Pressing his finger tip against the corner of his mouth, he realized: he was smiling.

Kryn turned the handle which cranked the gears enough to get it to move on its own before turning to Cain. “While this cooks, shall we continue our training?”

Cain nodded and shuffled over to his friend. He placed his hand on her shoulder as she preferred. In an instant, she turned to a black aura that consumed all light around it. He focused his energy to shift around and make room for her magic just as she taught him. As soon as he did, the aura zipped into his heart, indicated by the warm feeling within the muscle. Their minds touched and Cain’s muscles felt strong and rejuvenated. He flexed his hand and stretched his legs before they started training.

While fused, they performed their workout: some pushups, general stretches and sit-ups. After that, Cain affixed a hay dummy they made to the wall and practiced fighting techniques. He was still a novice at best, but it was better than missing the target completely like his first few attempts. He was fortunate Kryn was adept at caring for injuries. Without her, he would have been crippled for an extended period of time.

As they progressed, his kicks and punches landed more firmly accurately. His improvement stunned him, but Kryn remained persistent in her demand for better. It made him nervous, but she always followed it up with encouragement.

Once his muscles began to ache and his fists stung, Kryn called an end to the training.

‘You are improving quite nicely, my dear,’ she said, making Cain’s cheeks flush. ‘After we eat, let us continue our study. I am eager to continue learning what it is that makes humans function sociologically.” Cain thought about the books Kryn brought with her on her journey. Many were catered toward human psychology, something Cain never thought of to pay attention to. She struggled to read them properly. Given her size, it was nearly impossible for her to turn the pages without tearing the book into pieces, so Cain helped her. While he could not read, when they were fused, she read through his eyes and slowly taught him the meaning of the runes printed on the pages.

They diffused as quickly as they fused. Kryn took the cooked goat from the fire and chopped it with her claws in front of Cain.

“Thank you, Kryn. I am eternally grateful.”

She grinned and nudged his cheek with her snout before indulging in her own meal.

Midway through their dinner, they heard heavy footsteps disturb the loose ground at the cave mouth. Without a word, Kryn swiped her tail across the ground, throwing gravel over the fire, shrouding them in darkness. The steps were slowly getting louder, but stopped about halfway to their camp.

Nothing moved, not Cain or Kryn, not even the insects or critters that populated the cave; the cavern became eerily quiet. Though he could not see her, Cain sensed Kryn’s tensed body. She hung low, her dark underbelly inches from the ground. Like a predictor stalking her prey, she was ready to pounce at a moment's notice. If not for their shared energy, he would not even notice she was there.

A brooding, rasped voice broke the silence with booming volume, causing a long echo. That voice, a familiar voice, sent a shiver down Cain’s spine. “Cain? Boy, I know you are here!”

He snuck to the wall and peered around the small bend that led to the entrance. A man stood there: balding head, a ripped and beaten tunic with stains of mead and other unknown substances. There was no question, his father stood at the entrance, red in the face. That either meant he was a barrel deep in alcohol, or he was as mad as a bull. More times than not, it was both.

His heart skipped a beat when he felt Kryn’s breath on his neck. “Your father, I presume?” She growled quietly. “There is no need to be afraid anymore. I am with you.”

Her voice stilled his rapidly beating heart and a new found confidence filled his mind. He had told her stories about his father and how miserable the old man made Cain’s life. He could never do anything about it but run away. But now…

After taking a deep breath, he stepped out into the soft, orange light shining through the opening. His father lowered his brows. “There you are. It has been too long, there are many chores for you to catch up on. Get home, now.”

Cain lowered his gaze. That voice was a powerful force that beat him down constantly. A voice that usually preceded beatings and food deprivation. He would usually cower at it, grovel at his feet to beg for forgiveness, and that is exactly what his father was expecting now. No more, he thought.

He looked his father in the eye. “No, father.”

His father took a step back, shocked by Cain’s sudden refusal. That shock soon turned into anger. Never before had he seen his father become so red. He could have been mistaken for a ripe tomato. His father gritted his teeth and clenched his fist into a ball.

“I have no home there. My home is here,” Cain continued.

“You dare speak in that tone to me, boy?” His footsteps echoed against the stone walls as he angrily stomped toward Cain, who took a step back and stood on his toes as Kryn had taught him. His father swung his fist at Cain's face, which is what he expected, so he easily ducked away from it. This caught his father off guard as he stumbled from the force he put into the punch. He stared at the ground for a moment, not recognizing what had happened. Cain stood tall, staying in a ready stance.

Gaining his bearings, his father snapped his head to Cain. He lunged forward and extended his arms to grapple him, but again, Cain saw it coming and easily avoided it.

Cain smirked and began hopping on the balls of his feet. He readied for another swing from his fathers fist. To his shock, however, his fathers hard boot swirled from his left. There was no time to react, and even if he did, he was at the perfect height. No way to duck safely and no way to jump over the attack.

One second he was standing up watching his fathers boot, the next he was crumpled on the ground, facing the ceiling. His arm and ribs were screaming in pain. He tried to move his arm, but no reaction occurred. As he tried sitting up, the heel of his fathers other boot pressed firmly on his chest, pinning him to the ground. He grabbed onto his ankle and tried to pull it off, but it was too sturdy.

His fathers eyes were bulging, head still red, but a cruel smirk wrinkled his hideous face. “Know your place, boy.” The man pressed harder with his foot, digging his heel into Cain's chest. The pain was insurmountable. His ribs were bending, on the verge of shattering, he was short of breath as his lungs had no room to expand, and his heart compressed and felt like it was about to burst. Tears rolled down his cheek as he gasped for air. “You will come home and—”

A loud roar that made the walls tremble wiped the smirk off of his face. He looked up and was launched out of Cain's vision with a black blur. Air rushed into his lungs and his chest returned to its normal shape. After a few gasps, he struggled to his feet, stumbling to his right, Cain looked up and saw Kryn snarling over his father who was screaming out in agony. His right arm was crushed and a claw from her free paw was pressed against his neck.

Cain staggered to her and placed a hand on her side. “Kryn… please.”

She looked at him and her eyes scared him. They were narrow and sharp, full of blood lust. When they fell upon Cain, they softened and returned to the comforting gaze he was familiar with.

“Argh! Get this thing off of me, boy!” His father yelled. His voice was no longer the oppressive, booming sound it once was. This time, it cracked with fear and desperation. Cain nodded to Kryn, who returned the gesture and took a step back.

“You are right… I have no right to take his life… this is your kill.”

“W-what? I-I can’t…” Cain stammered, bewildered by Kryn’s proposal.

“He has made your life miserable and lonely. Return the favor as it is due.”

Cain dry swallowed and stepped to his father, who remained on his back, heaving in pain. “Quit talking to yourself and get me out of here.”

His eyes glossed over his father. He may have been abusive and cruel, but he was the only family he had.

“Remember all of the times he beat you,” Kryn said, her muzzle grazing his ear. “All of the times he berated you, starved you, made you feel like you were worthless. You deserve love, he deserves the eternal blaze. Worry not, for even with him gone you will not be alone. I am here, my dear. I will be your family. I will give you the love that no one else would. All you must do is rid yourself of these shackles.”

A loving family: it was all Cain ever wanted. He smiled. She’s right. I have no human family. Not here. Kryn is all of the family I need. She loves me; truly loves me. Cain leaned down, his father scoffing and extending his arm out as if Cain were about to help him to his feet. Instead, he averted his hand and picked up a large rock that lay next to his father. With both hands, he raised it above his head and grunted.

For a brief second, Cain saw something in his father that he only ever saw in the mirror: horror and dread.

His fathers shout of desperation was cut short as the rock came down on his head, crushing his face in. Blood splattered across the cave floor and onto Cain’s feet. He yelled out and slammed the rock onto him a few more times. He stood there, holding the rock in place a few inches deep into the face of his abuser, panting heavily. The man's arm twitched and fell limp at his side.

Tears streamed from Cain’s eyes. He heaved as every pent up emotion burst from his heart. Then he felt the soft embrace of Kryn’s wings pulling him into her. He put his arms around her and fell apart in the crook of her neck. She held him tightly, engulfing him in her warm, soft wings.

“Fear not the pain of release, my dear, for it will soon be annexed by love and joy. Until then, I will hold you together.”

⧫       ⧫        ⧫       ⧫

The next morning came all too quickly as they were awoken by the tired growl of Foto. Evelyn groaned and rubbed her temples. Lumin yawned and stretched his legs. They looked at each other knowingly.

“Another dream?” Evelyn asked. Lumin nodded and they recounted the unsettling details of the dream. Both were the same, matching every sorrowful, gruesome detail. “Something is bugging me about them… Let’s ask Isak about them when we get the chance.”

After grabbing breakfast in the mess hall, Lumin enjoying his own cooked meal, they made their way to the Burj Alzae. Isak was already there, sitting in one of the chairs in the main lobby, sipping from a mug. When he spotted the pair, he beckoned them over and told them to fuse.

As Evelyn touched Lumin, she remembered what Cain did in their dream. Mimicking him, she shifted her energy around. While she did not absorb Lumin as fast as Cain, it was a clear improvement from the day prior. Isak nodded and turned for the stairs and she felt a burst of pride not only from her, but Lumin as well.

They greeted the guards at the back door and walked upstairs, stopping at the second level. In the conference room on the left, Fukayna stood at the head of the table with her ichneumon next to her. Arms crossed, she looked upon a table surrounded by five Faiyan soldiers dressed in the same uniform Benjamin had been given. What differentiated them were the numerous patches and medals each one bore upon their chests under their diamond patches. Next to the window was a lone ichneumon. It took Evelyn a moment to recognize Jalibamawt.

Isak and Evelyn entered, drawing the attention of everyone except Fukayna, who’s focus remained on the table. Each person at the table had looks of curiosity and confusion when they saw her. Jalibamawt was the only one who amended his expression, greeting her with a smile and nod.

On the table in front of them all was a map concentrated on the west coast of Aonach. Placed on the map was a dragon figurine near Gleannach, a city built in the valley of the great mountain range that reached from the center of Aonach to Cove.

“I see you have already started, General,” Isak said, taking the last available seat. He motioned Evelyn to stand behind him.

“Just preparations with the commanders, Isak. Now we can get started.” Fukayna looked up from the map and looked around the room at everyone. She stopped briefly at Evelyn, her brows lowered. Her breath caught in her throat as she felt the intensity in the general’s glare.

“As previously discussed, from Dahlia’s intel we know that the remaining dragons that escaped consolidated the eggs to one dragon. We finally have confirmation of their whereabouts after they all diverted away from Midrib.”

She pointed to the figure on the map. “They should be in this general area a kilometer west of Gleannach up the northern mountain next to ‘the twisted three’. Since Base Midrib may be compromised, we need to get those eggs back to Cove without the empire finding out. This could prove vital to our success as a whole.

“Isak will take Jalibamawt to the valley and make contact with the dragon. From there, he will bring the eggs back on the surface while Jalibamawt will escort the dragon underground back to the base.”

“Are you sure we should be sending Jalibamawt without his companion? He is vulnerable without her,” the person across the table from Fukayna asked.

“You doubt his abilities?” Hafara growled. Jalibamawt glared at the man, raised an eyebrow and puffed his chest.

“Of course not,” he stammered. “I just think it would help the plan run smoothly.”

“Say I am caught,” Jalibamawt interjected. “If I am alone, they will likely believe that I am a surviving wild ichneumon that wandered into the empire. However, if I am captured with Majadon, then they will know ichneumon and their companions are not extinct as they believe. As much as I dread parting from her, it is necessary to preserve the resistance on this mission.”

“Our greatest advantage is the empire’s ignorance of our existence, Soto minimize that risk, Majadon will stay here.” Fukayna added.

“I will, however, need an extra set of hands,” Isak said. “I can only carry two eggs at once, and if that dragon is in the mountains, we can only risk one trip up and down, and defusing with Safir could draw more attention than we can afford.”

“Why not just have the eggs go with Jalibamawt underground? I feel it is unnecessary to risk the eggs being seen on the surface,” another advisor said.

“It will take Jalibamawt at least a week to create the tunnel back to the base and cover his tracks. If our intel is correct, at least one of the eggs is due to hatch in that time. Non groundclaw hatchlings would certainly die in a tunnel for that long,” Isak said.

“Did she not escape with her dragon through a tunnel?” The first officer pointed at Evelyn.

“There is a big difference between an hour and a week in a tunnel,” Isak responded. “Even if it was a groundclaw, we should have the rider candidates there when they hatch. That would give us better odds of the hatchlings choosing a rider.”

“So who should we send with you, Isak?” Fukayna asked.

Placing his hand on Evelyn's shoulder, he said, “Evelyn of course.”

The room erupted in a symphonie of arguments. Evelyn could only stand in silence, flabbergasted by his suggestion. Even Lumin was taken aback.

“She has been here for only a day, her dragon is not even a week old and you expect us to send her on a mission?”

“You said it yourself, she has a long way to go.”

“Surely there are other candidates with more experience that you could take.”

Isak was barely able to get a sentence in before the group howled in protest again. Among the chaos, the only ones silent were Jalibamawt, Fukayna and Hafara. The ichneumon had exasperated expressions, looking bored of their antics. The general, however, held her cold gaze on Evelyn. Out of instinct, she sank into her shoulders, uncomfortable with the unease her presence caused in the briefing.

‘Confidence,’ Lumin finally said. ‘Stand tall and proud, who cares what these… dummies think.’ Evelyn filled her lungs with the earthy, moist air and rolled her shoulders back. It felt awkward to force a prideful posture, but she hoped it worked. With a quick side glance, she saw Fukayna narrow her eyes, then shift them back to the bickering group.

“Alsamto!” Fukayna said with a raised voice; it was not enough to be a yell, but enough to cut through the cacophony of disputes. In an instant, the room fell silent, everyone sitting straight, turning their attention to the general. Once she was confident there would be no more interruptions, she released her breath. “You are sure of this, Isak? Would one of our dragonless riders not be better suited?”

Isak hesitated, but let out a gruff scoff. “Perhaps for certain scenarios, yes. But most of the candidates are still enroute from Midrib. Besides, she successfully snuck away with Lumin’s egg with two riders on the hunt, and that was without a dragon to be fused with, which is an advantage regardless of experience or abilities.”

“If we sent one of those other students of yours, could they not just bond with that dragon and fuse? Thus the risk of sending an ichneumon redundant?” Someone asked. Jalibamawt rolled his eyes while Isak wrinkled his nose.

“Subjecting a dragon to a forced bond is an abhorrent idea that will not be considered in this organization, am I clear?” Safir’s voice came through, cold and menacing.

“U-understood,” they said. The rest of the table nervously nodded in agreement.

‘So they all must be able to understand us?’ Lumin inquired.

‘It seems so.’

“It would also be unwise to wait for the candidates, and sending another Faiyan would carry the same risks as sending Majadon… Are you alright with this, Jalibamawt?” Fukayna asked.

The ichneumon shook his head. “I have no objections.”

“If there are no other protests, you have my blessing, Isak, Evelyn. Figure out what the twisted three means and bring those eggs back alive. Kunamna, all of you.”