Chapter 17

As the group was getting closer to the mountain ranges, Rex decided to ask about the place and the people who lived there.

“Those are the Ragnar Mountain ranges, the people who live there are called the Bohl, they are a race of hybrid human and ogre, the ancestral caretakers of the dragon called Ragnar.” Markus replied.

“I once saw one of them open a door for Iris, I only saw his hand, and even that was enormous!” Rex said.

“It is uncommon for any Bohl to be under 6 foot tall, if I’m not mistaken they are born at 2-3 feet tall, not a small feat, you will see when you meet another of your fathers generals at the capital. No doubt you will be invited to one of their massive feasts.” Markus said.

As the sun started to set on day 2 of travelling, they came up onto the edge of a lake that stretched all the way to the mountain base. Rex strained his eyes and swore he could see a house on the other side below the mountain. “That’s where we are headed.” Chirped Raz seeing Rex looking out over the water.

Unpacking the travelling gear, Raz and Kal changed their forms back, this time rex was getting used to it, so decided he would watch a little of it. Seeing what was happening to their bodies looked painful, but it didn’t seem to bother the twins.

“No offence, but that looks terrible. Does it hurt changing your body so drastically?” Rex asked.

“It did the first few times, but its become so normal now, its more a tingling sensation.” Kal said shrugging, while Raz stood behind nodding.

“Is it something you can learn?” Replied Rex.

“I believe so, it is hard to find a master to apprentice to, but not impossible to learn. You shouldn’t need to morph into any animal, I saw you already used a dragons claw, what other animal isn’t as useful as a dragon?” Raz said. The moment he said that Kal whacked him in the shoulder and whispered, “he said not to say anything about that.”

Luckily for Rex his senses had started to heighten a little after the fight, so he was able to hear what they said.

“Say anything about what?” Kal asked trying to look innocent.

“Time for dinner!” Markus interjected clearly trying to change the subject while glaring at the twins.

“You’re going to have to tell me eventually.” Rex added with a sly smile, the twins were clearly surprised he was able to hear what they whispered to each other, was that a look of awe or fear? He couldn’t tell.

Soon the conversation over dinner became about the Fate Seer and their meeting tomorrow.

“Well if memory serves me, the other 2 people who will be in attendance is a young lady called Lizzetta Strix, her father leads the people of Kent which is the capital of Bhutan, where we are now, they are gifted with control over the elements. The other person is the son of Bruhg, I don’t believe I know his name, they are Bohl, would make for some good friends” Markus said winking.

“Why does everyone send people to the Fate Seer?” Rex asked.

Markus put his hand on his chin, slowly stroking the small stubble he had and said, “She is able to read and interpret the flow of ones fate, showing you possible paths to follow. What she tells you is information only for yourself, and passing on what has been said is your choice, but you should know, information is a source of power. As you make enemies…”

“Which you already have, our young boy is growing so fast!!…hahaha” Raz and Kal threw in, high fiving each other.

Shaking his head at the twins, Markus continued, “Yes as I was saying, you will have enemies, the part to learn is what you reveal about yourself and to who. Information is the wrong hands is path to ruin. Take it from me.”

Sounds like the start of a good story Rex thought sitting up.

“I know what you’re thinking, not a story for tonight.” He added, which made everyone groan in disappointment. “Raz what did you do with the drinking skin?”

“Kal had it last.” He said.

“Nope, you got it from your bag.” Kal glared, not impressed his brother tried to push off the blame.

“Ill get up and get it” Rex added, standing and walking over to the rucksacks. Opening the bag up, Kal was right, it was still in the bag. Smiling at the twins he grabbed it, walked over and threw it to Markus. He popped open the cork lid taking a large drink before passing it to the twins. Both twins also had a mouthful before throwing it to Rex, “you’re part of this adventure too” they said winking. Rex looked at Markus who beckoned for a mouthful. As he pulled the skin up to his lips, the faint scent of almonds, that’s odd, he never noticed what it smelt like before. Having a small mouthful he felt instant heat in the back of his throat which made him cough from the burn and how the drink took his breath away.

This brought on heavy laughter from the group watching that. As Rex chuckled to himself, a slight feeling of uneasiness overcame him. Then he noticed his brain had become sluggish. Looking at the others, it didn’t seem like they had noticed. That’s odd, must just be the drink Rex thought to himself, he had never drank alcohol before. Whatever was in it its making me feel tired.

“I think ill get an early night” Rex said looking up, that’s odd, they were already asleep, day must have been rough on everyone.

After opening his bedroll he spun over to lay down, which made his whole world spin, if this is what its like to drink, ill stay away from this he thought. Finally getting onto his back, Rex was about to close his eyes, what was that noise, one of the others must be awake. Then he noticed he wasn’t able to get up, his eyelids were so heavy, they were closing on their own. This isn’t natural he thought, the more he struggled, the quicker it was happening, just as his eyelids closed, a shadow stood over him.

Opening his eyes, it seemed Rex hadn’t slept for long, jumping up and looking around, well that’s odd, I’m not at the camp anymore he said to himself confused. Pinching himself, it hurt, cant be a dream then.

“You’ve finally come to this place youngling” boomed a familiar voice, “thought not by choice it seems.”

“Who are and where am I?” Rex yelled, starting to panic a little, “Markus!! Raz! Kal! Where are you?!”

“This is a place for you and I, they cannot come here, for this is a place inside of you.” Said the voice a little closer this time, “We don’t have long to talk, so lets go with the basics, I am called Fafnir, and you are my bound one, named Rex by your father”

After saying this a pair of golden eyes appeared out of the darkness and looked at him.

“How do you know me?” Rex said. He was starting to sweat profusely, he didn’t know what was going on or why.

“I’ve watched you for a long time.” It said, “We are out of time, I need you to wake, she has found us and wishes us harm.”

“Who does?” Rex replied.

“You will see soon enough.”

“NOW WAKE!!” the voice boomed out, which made Rex jump awake, fully alert.

Quickly scanning his surroundings he noticed someone with their back to him tying up the twins. “He was supposed to be alone.” Said the person, Rex instantly recognized the voice.

Nessa!

As Rex stood, he noticed her straighten her back, standing before turning to face him, then with a sly smile she said.

“I see once again, I underestimated you. You seem to be something else, that I can be certain of. No matter, even special people can bleed.”

Taking out the dagger from her sheath, Rex noticed this time the blade was covered in an odd looking red aura.

Nessa seeing him notice it, she brought the blade up to her face, spinning it around while saying, “after last time, I had to make certain….assurances, I would win this time.”

It was like Rex didn’t even know her anymore, she seemed fully consumed by revenge. “I understand why you’re angry, I dreamt of nothing but revenge for a while, but I have more pressing matters, so I forgive you.”

What he said seemed to make her bravado falter for a second, she then hardened her stance before saying, “I don’t care about your forgiveness, an eye for an eye.”

If he wasn’t mistaken, it even felt like Nessa didn’t even believe her own words.

It seems Rex had seen something to work with to get her to stop pursuing him. Part of him still wished for them to return to how they were before. So with that in mind he said, “If you wish to pursue this to its full stupidity, I have a condition.”

This wasn’t part of Nessa’s plan, but neither was Rex waking so quickly. This was giving her much needed time to be able to plan her next moves. “Very well.”

“If I win, you swear to stop this chase, and if you win you get your revenge.” He said calmly.

“Wait! So if you win, you wont kill me?” she asked, another shock to her, is there something wrong with him? Did he forget what she was here for. He isn’t normal she thought, but something still itched inside of her, to find out who he was. “I need to know something first, how did you wake so quickly? I double dosed the skin.”

“I have a close friend who tipped me off to it.” He replied, winking. Well I’m not lying he thought.

‘Don’t let the blade touch you young one’ said Fafnir in his head ‘I cannot help you with that poison’

Whatever Nessa had done to her blade, Rex was sure with the worry in Fafnir’s voice, he should avoid it at all costs.

“Hello!! I’m talking to you! Why did you look like you disappeared for a second.” Nessa called out raising her eyebrow at him. He was acting very strange.

“Just getting some advice” Rex said smiling slightly and shrugging his shoulders. Seeing the confusion on her face, it seemed he was slowly cracking her defences.

“From who?” she asked, she had even lost the anger in her voice she had been adding before.

“You follow the current path to a fight, you’ll see soon enough.”

Nessa once again noticed that cockiness before her last defeat, even with her coated blade, she had a small amount of doubt appear in her mind. Why does he affect me so much, it made her furious, no one had ever made her doubt before.

“Come now Nessa, if you don’t hurry they will wake and made the odds unfair for you” Rex said bringing Nessa back from her thoughts.

Nessa brought up her blade ready for the oncoming fight.

Rex starting walking towards Nessa, still unarmed before saying, “come Fafnir, lets show her the mistake she is making.”

‘Scare tactics, smart move youngling.’

Lifting his hands up in front of himself while walking towards Nessa, Rex pictured his hands returning to the same as the crazak fight, feeling the same warmth return to his hands. Within seconds his hands had changed.

The moment Nessa saw what his hands had become she fell over backwards on one of the twins legs, face full of terror.

“Wwhhaat are you??” she said.

“I am Rex.”