Chapter 5 - Allani

The moment I entered my room, I slammed the door shut, fighting to control my thoughts. I had barely managed to keep my mask of emotionless ruthlessness while facing her. Once I saw her, the memories kept pounding into me. I undressed quickly, changed into my nightgown, and climbed into the bed, shutting my eyes. 

 Burning. All that I knew, the city I had grown up in, was burning to ashes before my eyes. Mother grabbed me, pushing me towards the forest, begging me to run before they managed to catch us, but it was too late. The riders came at that moment, grabbing Mother and forcing her arms behind her, binding her wrists tightly with rope. 

I looked beyond the riders. Father and the other rebels were also bound, and I saw Xaden, Garrick, Imogen, Liam, and Bodhi standing nearby, along with the other rebel kids. 

No. No. No. Everything that our parents had worked for was gone. 

I was frozen. Unable to move, to fight back like my parents taught me as the riders pulled my arms behind me as well, forcing me to walk to the others standing by the rest of the riders. 

They loaded us into wagons, and the trip to Navarre was unbearable, my mind racing. 

Soon, they opened the door to the prison wagon, forcing us all out, and I saw our parents lined up in front of a huge black dragon. Codagh. 

No. Gods no. This was an execution. 

General Melgren started talking, but I could only see his mouth moving. I couldn't hear anything over the pounding beats of my heart as I stared at the emotionless general. 

Then, Codagh moved, positioning himself right in front of the rebels, and opened his mouth, fire glowing down his throat before it spewed out his giant, gaping maw, the vicious flames consuming my parents and the rebels, not even giving them time to scream before they turned into ashes on the wind. 

The dragon turned to us next, molten gold eyes seeming to pierce into our souls and find our deepest, darkest secrets. 

I clutched the intricate rune that Colonel Mairi gave us, my fingers white-knuckling the cool stone as I turned my back, attempting to cover the younger children as best as possible. I felt heat rush, and I braced myself to meet Malek. 

It never came. I only felt heat race up my arm, followed by excruciating pain. 

I surged up from the bed, sweat trickling down my spine as I took in my surroundings. 

I'm safe. Safe. Safe. I reminded myself, my breaths coming in short pants as I calmed down slightly. 

I looked outside, where the sun had barely peaked over the horizon, painting the sky with beautiful streaks of pink. 

"I'll meet you in the flight field," Athana said, already catching wind of my thoughts.

I took a couple of seconds to get my mind out of my memories, before pushing off the bed and changing into my leathers, sheathing my daggers and then my twin swords at my back. 

"I'm coming to you now," I told her, opening my door quietly, and walking out, one hand braced on a dagger's hilt as I moved discreetly down the halls of the fortress. 

I arrived at the secret tunnel leading to the flight field, opening the hidden door with a flick of my wrist and summoning a mage light as I walked down the dark tunnel. Soon, I arrived at the end of the tunnel and pushed open the door. 

Athana was already there, her amethyst scales glinting in the faint sunlight from the dawn. 

"Let's fly," I said once I found my seat. 

She took off, her wings flapping once, twice, gaining speed, and then she leveled out, gliding smoothly through the sky. 

Most riders chose to wear flight goggles to keep the wind out of their eyes while flying, but I relished the burning of the wind in my eyes. 

"Anywhere specific you plan on going?" Athana asked. 

"No. Anywhere is fine, I just needed to fly. It's the easiest way to forget." I said. 

A slight hum of agreement pulsed down the bond. We circled over the Vale once or twice, the trees blocking everything except the dirt path used for Presentation. 

Soon, I could see the sky turning lighter, and Athana landed. I dismounted, patting her, and then left, walking back to my dorm. I didn't see anyone on my way back, and shut the door behind me, dropped onto my chair, opened my sketchpad, flipped to the drawing of Sgeayl, and started to work on it. 

It would be a while until morning formation started, so I focused on her details, letting the rest of my thoughts disappear as I gave myself to my art. 

This was a pretty short chapter. I might be able to post more often, now that midterms are over, but my teachers are determined to tire us out, so I might not. Feel free to comment anything that might be wrong with the story.