"Yes sir"
"That's a shame, I heard this is the best place to go, even some of the nobles talk about it" The Man replied giving a hearty laugh. "Who are you sir?" My master asked out, slight curiosity pricking in his voice. "Why my sir," the man answered, taking off his hat "Shouldn't you know me? I am the king of our fair country, Shala." I Instantly drop to a bow, kneeling on my knee, my Master doing the same beside me. "Stand, Stand" The King said. "I am not here to brag or anything, I have been In and out of this shop for the past few weeks, and I've come to like you Style of doing things, Though" The king gave a hearty laugh "The yelling bit gave me quite a shock there, I think i responded a bit to harshly tough"
"Oh no, we get people like that all the time, your Majesty"
"No need to call me that here, just call my Alue, and I came, for my medicine man has fallen sick, and is close to dieing. I have been to all the shops around town, looking for the perfect person to take over as the new Medicine man, But, as you know of the rule and policies, it has to be a man or women, around the ages of 12-17. You my fine friend, is one of the few with a child apprentice of that age. I have found yours perfect, just enough spunk and harshness to keep those royalty on their toes, but with enough softness to never give up on a patient, even when all hope is lost." The king gave me a kind look, but it was backed with a misgiving about his decision. "but, most medicine men, are men, not women, so, that would present a problem." Looking at me, the king's eyes Be came thoughtful. "but, we might just be able to pull you in, if you show your worth, How long have you been teaching this girl" The king asked turning to my master.
"Since i found her, 9 years ago. I do not know of her parents, but from the state she was in when i found her, I'd say they would be both dead." my master replied humbly to the question. "How old is she?"
"I do not really know, but from her size, and coming of age, i would say 13, probably rounding 14 here soon" I stood blushing in the corner, and the king asked my master questions about me as though I was a slave, which I basically was anymore. I could not wrap my mind around the thought of leaving my master, even though i had trained with my master on making potions and such, i had never really went out and done any of the stuff my master did. I was just the shop girl, with a lame leg, who tended the shop and often got beat upon. I was normally looked down upon, for I was a disgrace to my city. "Does she have any defaults to be known of at this time?" the question snapped me out of my consternation.
"Yes sir, I do have a lame leg, where i was hit by a run away cart, the same that killed my mother." I heard my self answering. I had known that all my life, though I never told anybody, Not even my master. Both my Master, and My king turned and looked at me for I had spoken out of turn. "I am sorry" I said quickly, ducking out of sight, But not before my Master got to me, belt raised. I was prepared to face the pain for my disobedience, and the mockery of having to be punished in front of royalty. But instead of the pain, I hear the harsh cry of somebody in pain. I turn around, to see my master on the ground withering in pain, as the King replaces his sword on his hilt. "I do not like it when people are hurt in my presence, even if it is the most disobedient slave around." I look at the king, surprise and relief mixing on my face. "Lets go, before the nobles realize where I've gone and what I've done here" The king said, with a chuckle, and a wave of his hand.
"Wow." Looking up at the elegant castle before me. "Is that really your castle? that looks too small to be yours...." the king gave out a bellowing laugh "No, No, This isn't mine, this is our Medicine Man's house, and your right, this is too small to be mine."
"Why are we here?"
"Because i would like to show Nipo, our Medicine Man, who i have found to replace him, in his waning time." Looking down at me, The king gave a Puzzled look and asked, out of the blue, "How did your mother truly die?"
"I thought you would know, Since most of the deaths on that day, went strait to you" I answered looking up at him, My power sparking in my eyes. I wait for him to answer, to fall into my minor trap. It's nothing much, but it'll let me test my power on the higher up people, not just the nitwits who come into my Master's shop, and then try to trash the place. "yes, i do know about most of the deaths on that one rainy day, but, when i was looking at your file, it said your mother was still alive, even though her body was brought in." I gave a small smile, he fell right into my trap.
"But sir, You are wrong. My mother's body never came in. Her body was dumped down a drain, for she was seen as bad luck," Looking up at the king, "Do you know why?"
"No my dear, I sadly do not."
"It was that day, that a war between two dragon clans ended, and the Life Dragon was seen for the first time in years. I know, I saw the dragon. And I also know that it was no accident that the cart came down that hill that day. That was the work of the Fate Dragon. Do you Know what my linage is from? I'll tell you this, it's a rare one." I Finished, and pushed my way through the gates, leaving the speechless king behind. "But, But, if your not royalty from the Life Dragon line, Then you must be from the fate dragon line, Is that right? But, if you as a Fate dragon daughter, Then how did you see the Life dragon, with out being dead your self?" The king stuttered. I gave another small smile, he was confused. But I will not help him here, For he must figure out on his own, or I shall run rampid.
As we make our way up the door, the king tried to pry answers out of me, but, being who I am remained silent as usual. When we got to the door, this old maid opened up the door, "Come in, Come in, Nipo has been waiting for you, your majesty." She beckoned us in. The house Reeked like medicines, but it was not overwhelming. Just enough though, to keep the stench of sickness away. "He's in the far bedroom" The maid said, pointing down the hall. As we moved closer to the room, the stench of sickness grew stronger and stronger. When we finally got the Nipo's room, i realize hat it is not him that is making the stench, but something else. "Is this the lad that you brought to be my replacement?" Nipo asked from his bed. the king and I smirked. "You better step into the light "Lad"." the king pushed me into the room, and Nipo gave a small laugh. "You brought me a girly Alue? they are weak, not able to do this line of work." My head swung around fast at those word, I let me power run a tad free, Just enough to let me find the source of his sickness. It's in his lungs, nothing to bad, but where it is, makes it worse the it actually is. He is close to dieing though, his heart is giving out. I clear the stuff in his lungs, it should give him a peaceful death, not painful like it would have been. "Whoa." Nipo said, clear and fresh with his better lungs, he looked at me "Was that you that did that?"
"Yes sir." He smiled, "Maybe a lady isn't such a bad replacement" He said, trailing off into a sleep. "Come." The king spoke out, as i turned to leave. "I do think that the rest of the nobles would like to see you, word spread fast around here, and it would seem that I should be heading back.
As we leave the house behind, I Look up at the sky. I see two dragons, The twin dragons, Life and Fate, circling Above in the clear sky. They are pleased with me. Good things are to come for me, But, Bad things are to come for others. I glance up at the king, a small smile on my face. The wielder of both the powers of the Twin dragons, working right under the king's nose.
chapter 1
Yawning, I stretch myself awake. As I move to get off my bed, I see an all to familiar shape hunched over in the corner. Picking up the big stick I keep near my bed, I prod the figure awake. "I guess the counsel still doesn't trust me." I say when i have the figure awake enough to hear me. "I do not think so, but They trust you enough that i'm the only person that watches you, for now." My "Watcher" replied. "Well then, if that is so, then you can go get me some tea." I Watch as my maid, walks out of the room stretching, before i make a bolt to the window Remove a couple of the bars the counsel put there to try and stop me from getting out, open up the window, and jump down into the garden. I'm about halfway to the gate, when I hear my maid yelling out the window, "Get back here! I know your out there! I shall Find you!!!" Stifling back a snicker, for i knew she would find me,but not before I clear the gate. Making my way along the gate, i come the the weak part. As I Lift my self over the side, I see a group of guards. One spots me, and alerts the rest of the groups. I'd better run, but, just before i do, i pluck a flower from the wall, and throw it to the men, embedding a little bit of my power into it. Like dogs following a bone, the fools stop, only to have the flower explode knock-out gas.Weaving my way through the ever crowed streets, my bad leg starts to hurt. I can't stop now, not in this part of town. If i stop here, I will surely be robed, not that I own much, but for women, not many dare to travel down this lane. Even with my powers, I'm still in danger traveling down this lane. Though, I've passed though here so often, and had most of the normal robbers come and get their butts kicked into the nearest Trash bin. But, I do not think I could do that now, Not with my leg hurting like it is. As I hobble along, some of the more rough and tough guys come out. The crowds scatter, leaving me in the street with these big burly men around me. No doubt what they want to do. But, I beat them to it. I do the one thing women can do best: Scream their lungs out. And trust me, I can scream loud, loud enough to make anybody who is less then 10 feet away from me eardrum's bleed. And these "boys" were just inside of that area. Now, with the guards on their way, and the men down, I hobble along till I get to a ladder, and I climb.
Starring down at the mayhem below, I burst out laughing. The men who circled me are now screaming babies, the guards are still trying to figure out what happened, and the other people are either running around in panic flight mode, or fighting anything that touches them. A heavy thud makes me turn, but it's just Azunara, The Life Dragon. "What a mess you made there Stara. Tyger, The Fate Dragon is gonna have his hands full." She gave a small laugh, "What did you do down their that made such a Mess?"
"I did what came natural to girls. I screamed."
"Well girly, you have a scream that even I'm afraid of. I'd better be going now, looks like your "friends" have spotted you" She uncurled, and flew off into the small break into the clouds. "You there! up on the building! that is an offense to the law! come down this instant!" I gave a sly smile, and took off running as fast as I could, Which wasn't very fast, but it was faster then the people on the ground. And I had a secret helper, But it's not the dragons. No, they are normally way to busy.
As I reach the end of the rooftops, i see a couple of guards come up the ladder behind me. I was trapped. I let out an ear splitting whistle, and this Giant bird comes down from the sky, which i hop onto "See you later boys!" I say waving at their dumbfounded faces. But, my new found freedom from them was short lived. Some of the other guards had gotten nets, and proceeded to drag me down. I was quickly cuffed, and dragged off when the guards got a hold of me.
Being marched into the jail, in front of most of the nobles, is not what I am going to let happen. I'll start with talking. "Good sir, Do you know who I am?"I asked the guard holding me. "Your a mangy Street rat." was his grunted reply. "Wait, Bill. She does look familiar"
"Really sir? All these street rats look the same to me."
"Really, yet, you can't even tell the face of a noble from the face of a street rat. Let the girly go."
"Why sir? She's just a street rat with a pretty face. We should just march her up into the jail."
"DO NOT BACK TALK TO YOUR COMMANDING OFFICER!"
"yes sir" the guard replied very weakly as he let me go. "There you go, my lady Stara" The lead guard said, taking hold of my hand "May i walk you home?" he asked. "No. I wouldn't want to touch you, even is you was made out of cashmere and the pure silk of the east" I spat at him, wrenching my hand away. The other guards snickered, and the captain looked offended. "w-well then, have a nice day." he stuttered, as i turned and walked briskly off. Now my time at where I wanted to go to will be cut short. Curses. I should have gone the other way. I look up at the sky, "Curses!" I mutter. The sky had filled with dark clouds. I was too far from home, but also too far from my destination to reach there before all fury broke loose. I started to walk hurriedly, but the storm broke before i was even half way down the street. at one house, a nice lady opened up the door, and beckoned me inside. "Come, Come! It is no time to be out in the rain, My Lady" As I hurry over to the house, I smell the rich sweet honey and flower sent of Azunara, The Life Dragon.
chapter 2
Looking out the window, at the monsoon storm, I pray to the Life and Fate dragons to protect me from the dangers of my life. As I turn away from the window, I see the smiling face of the women who bravely opened up her door, to give me a place of safety from the unrelenting,freezing cold rain. "Would you like some tea, or food My lady?""No, no, I'm fine" As those worlds left my lips, my stomach gave a huge growl, Declaring for all to hear, that it's hungry. I giggle a little, and blush as the kind old lady offers me some food. "My lady, you need to eat. You won't make it far on an empty belly" But, I still politely decline her food, "This will feed your family for weeks, you don't need to waste it on me." I told her. She still tried to give me the food, "My lady, I can see the dragons have a strong bond with you. You shouldn't make them angry for dieing by starvation just because it might kill this old lady. It's past my time to be on this realm anyways. I'll be happy to go, knowing I kept Someone who the dragons favor alive through this terrible storm." She said at last. That remark caught me off guard. "How did you know that the dragons Favor me? I didn't think anybody could see it." She gave a hearty laugh. "My dear, most of us down here, in the dumps, can see them. We have come so close to death, or are at death's door, and have seen the dragons in person. It leaves a mark on your soul, allowing one to see the dragons. Though most only see the Life dragon, I am one of the few who have seen both. It's strange though, Both the dragons have an interest in you." She gave me a small smile, as though to say she's sorry, "Those few like you, are often used as pieces in a giant game of chess. The dragons are the kings and queens, and your the knights and rooks. We, are just mere pawns, gone swiftly and come back even quicker. Some, get to the other side of the board, and become rooks. You who where born as rooks, my dear, You tend to die in the painful grasp of your enemy. No, not your mortal enemy, but the enemy of all those who are living, The Death God, Lupis. He gets more and more power every day, Not just from those who die, Like the gods have wished, No, He's found an outside source, and is threatening to take over our realm, and kill any who stands in his way, Even the very essence of Life itself." She finished her long speech by handing me a plate of food. "Now eat my dear, and remember, if you ever need a place to stay, if your caught out in the rain, anybody you ask down here in this part, Will open their doors and let you in. I do believe that you should be heading back to the castle, but, this storm doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon." She gave a small laugh and a shake of her head, "If you need to my dear, I can pull out the mini bed for you to sleep on, Would you like that?" she asked. "Yes grandmother, I would like that, and thank you, for helping me." She smiled, Then walked off to what I believe to be her room, "Good Night, My lady. Let's hope the rain let's up soon." She said, just before she clicked off the lights.
When I awoke in the morning, surrounded by water. It seemed to have flooded last night. "My dear, Could you come, and help this old lady out of her floating bed, please?" the cry came from the old lady's room. I maneuvered the small bed I was on, over to the lady's bedroom. As I helped her get onto my little bed, I told her, "I don't think that it was just your house that flooded, with the amount of water in here."She quickly nodded her head in agreement. As we float out the door, I see that i am correct, The whole lower section of the city had flooded. As we move along, looking for not only a better boat, but also survivors, Little rivulets coming down the street suggest that some places higher up also flooded. The weather does not seem to help though, little spurts of rain, as though the storm does not want to die out right now, but wants to stick around and cause us misery.
Even after an hour, I have not found any survivors. I have found a big boat, that me and the old lady are sitting in, But no people. Plenty of bodies, rich, poor, young and old, Anybody caught out in that storm,even some in their houses, Died. "That was no natural storm, But it was not one sent by the lesser weather dragon." I said to the old lady. "No, this is Lupis's work, He made this, just to kill all these people, so he can get even more power." She looked up at me, "The Life Dragon spared you, and me because I had saved you. But, My time is short hear anyways. I believe i have about a year or so left. I have done many bad things to my body in the past." I use my power, and look inside her. She is right, she did abuse her body before. Using some of my power, I heal what I can, and patch up the rest. The old lady smiled, "I knew you had a power, I just didn't know what it was, Now I do." She said to me, Startling me. I looked at her, but as I did so, a cry for help rang out. "Help!"
Dipping my make shift paddle made out of a lamp with no bulb and the cords ripped out, I hurried over to the survivor. It was a young female, probably no older the 9 or 10. I hauled her up into the boat, "Parents?" I asked. She shook her head no, "They drowned." She pointed at the pink roof of a house a couple blocks down, "I had gotten shoved in a box, but it broke apart right here." I dip my paddle into the water, setting of towards higher, and not flooded, land. We needed to get this girly to some place warm fast. The water is cold at this time of day, and so is the air. She's starting to shiver, which is a very bad sign at this time. As we pass the bodies, a couple move, as though alive, but their time left here is short, too short to be able to be saved. I cast a couple glances now and then, Focusing my power, to see who can really be saved, and who is really dead. I also use my power to help the girly a little, I push the water out of her lungs, heat the blood in her body a little, But she really needs some warm food, and some nice rest. We can give her the rest here on the boat, But with out the food, it would be in vain.
As we reach the higher ground, I am met by a startling sight. The Noble, Helping the common people. A sight never seen before, not even when we had floods like this. Something terrible must have happened. As I am helped out of the boat by a couple of my body servants, I Hear the worst news of all. In the storm the royal castle was struck by lighting, and flooded. The Prince, and his two younger brothers dead, struck down by falling timber, and the King, and the Queen, where Missing. the only heir to the throne left was the 10 year old girl, Silvre.
chapter 3
The King. Missing. No. It can't be! It just can't be!!! The Princes, dead, the Queen, Missing. My world, and so may others have fallen into ruin. Why did this have to happen to me, at this time. As more reports flood in, i hear that ALL the nobles who where at the palace went missing. That means that every noble is missing, except me, and the young princess. And yet, no report has come in of where she is either. I keep the young girl I rescued close to me, Which isn't hard, since we are both in a room at the small infirmary station. I watch this girl, the way she moves say she is of a royal line, but the way she talks, say that she knew Nada of it. An official came into our room, "My ladies, We have been informed, that a couple of the higher up royalties manged to get out alive, and they inform us, that the only heir to the throne, has not been educated on the proper ways. she was living at her aunts place until she would be received by the royal court." He said, looking at us. "What is her name, sir?" The girl asked. "My dear, Her name would be," He glanced down at his papers, "Silvre." he said at last. The girl's eyes opened up wide, "But, But, But, But" that was all she was able to say, until i gave her a sharp slap on the back, "But, That's my name...." She looked up at the man, "My name is Silvre."Great. Just great. Now, I'm not just stuck with some girl i pulled out of the flood waters, But I'm now stuck with the UN-educated princess heir. And of course, Once the royalty who survived figured out who I am, assigned me to the task of keeping protective barriers up around her, and healing her if she got hurt, or ill. Just great. Now, not only saving her life once, I get to do it on command. Great. Just when my life was starting to back to normal, Lupis went and ripped it out by the roots. Oh how I'm going to kill him. Even if I have to resurrect him to do it. "Jease,"I mutter,"when ever my life gets to be livable, something comes and completely trashes it."
"Really my lord? Is that how you really feel? At least with you, You have your past experiences to help you survive, me, I have nothing." Silvre said, looking up at me. I gave a small smile, sensing the presence of Azunara (or Azu) The Life Dragon. I slowly lift a hand up, calling her forth for the young princess to see, "What you have my dear, Is this." resting on my hand, was the head of Azu, and on my right shoulder, Tyger was resting his head. Silvre's eyes opened up wide "w-w-w-w-hat, What, what, what, what are you?" She stuttered. I gave a small laugh, "What am I? What Am I? I am human like you, and yet, I have attracted the attention of both the Dragons, possibly three, if Lupis, the Death Dragon god had taken an interest in me." I turn around, and start to walk away,"So, What makes me so special, that attract the great Dragons gods? Even I have yet to find an answer. But, I do know, That all who side with me, Will have the blessings of the Dragon gods."
Weaving my way though the crowds, i am shocked by how few people are here. I make my way to the elder's circle Where the old lady, Who I found out, was the oldest living lady in the country, Liliya, who is 110. I went off to look for her, to make sure the small bargain I made with the dragons happened. When i found her, i knew that they dragons had kept their part, Now, to tell her, her part to keep. I walked up to her, and motioned her to move inside. When we were both inside, and the door was shut, She asked "Now, What did you do to me?" I gave a small snicker,"I made a bargain with the dragons, to keep you forever young. You can cancel the affect anytime." She gave me a long hard look,"And what is my end of the bargain? What do I have to do?"
"All you have to do, is be the knowledge keeper for the dragons. You see, They know that sooner or later, a new faith is gonna come along, and they are going to lost with time. All you do, is keep them alive, one way or another. You you will be forever young. that is all." I said back to her, with a nod of my head. She sat for a moment, pondering. "Is this all? no hidden back fire, or anything?" She asked quietly. I bowed my head,"That is all" She nodded slightly, making her choice in her head. "What happens if I don't accept right now?" She asked quietly. "Nothing much, you just go back to your old age and look."
"Hr-mm, well then, i think I'll accept the deal." She reached out her hand, but not towards me, but towards the Life Dragon, who had come to watch. I walked out, glad that the bargain I had made, went well. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I had wandered down to the "docks" all on my own. I looked around for my boat, The little canoe, with the lamp paddle was safely tied to the shore. I looked over to the dock master, waved my hand to tell him I was going out.
Sitting out, surrounded by water, with a few roof tops, and dead people floating by, isn't the best place to sit and think, but it's the only place at the moment. I watch as some bodies float by, gently bumping my canoe.I sigh softly to my self, What a rut I'm in. Stuck, in the middle of this disaster, with no place to run, no place to hide, No place to curl up, and cry. Stuck, out here, where the feelings run freely, out here where the Dragon gods seem to have turned their back, on every body but me. But me, Why me? What makes me so special? What makes me the savior of our cursed world? What, What? Nothing I seem to do, have any affect. Not that I've done much, But i have no plans for doing anything more. Any plans I did have, well, are blown way out of the water. Any blessing I have, turns into a curse. I sit back in My canoe, and scream pure fury, "Why me! Why! Tell me Why!" Breaking down into a sob, I can't help but to think back, to my past.
I knew very little about my past. I know that I did not know of my father, But my mother Died when I was very young, When a cart came down the steepest hill, on a very rainy day. It was that same accident that broke my left foot, and left me useless to pretty much everything except royal servant work, or healing. I opted for healing, servant work would not go well with my attitude. And, it was also good that Master was there, to try to heal me. Though he failed, he still gave me a life, But, did he expect it to come to this? Did I expect my Life to come to this? "No.", A sudden voice said in my head. It was not mine, But who was it's? A small chuckle filled my mind, "Why, you don't know me? I thought you would, After all, You are My Daughter." I knew that voice. I knew it. And, I did not like it. The voice was Lupine's, The Main Male death god, Lupis's, the death god we know, Father. Which meant, that I am a sister to the dragon gods.
