Chapter 18

Seeing Nessa’s face as Rex approached her showing off the part of Fafnir he was able to conjure gave him a sense of power for the first time in his life. After so many years of torment, this seemed like a good change, after all he was a Prince!

“You seem to have lost all sense of yourself there, do you yield?” Rex said.

“You only got me for a second!” Nessa yelled jumping back to her feet. She definitely had no idea how she was going to combat this new threat, and to her it looked strangely similar to pictures of dragon’s feet she had seen. But morphing into a dragon was impossible! Or so she had been told.

“Yield or regret it” Rex said, he was trying his hardest to prevent fighting her and had hoped the scare tactic would enough to stop her. Seeing as she had jumped up and seemed to regain her composure made him sigh a little. He did not want to be enemies with her.

Seeing the look of conflict on Rex’s face Nessa decided that was the time to strike! Closing the gap between them quickly she pushed the dagger towards Rex’s ribs as fast as she could, to her dismay it seemed he was still faster than her and he stepped to the side and her hand slipped past him and cut only air. Then without warning she felt an incredible pain to her shoulder that knocked her from her feet. It happened so fast it was a few seconds before she realized she was no longer standing and was flat on her back.

“I can’t get up!” she growled. Looking around to try and see what had pinned her down.

To her horror Rex had been fast enough to slide past her stab and with his other hand had driven a claw into her shoulder while standing on her hand holding the dagger and was pinning her down with his knee on her neck. Her mother had told her she was too careless at times, it seemed with Rex she was clueless, how could she plan to kill someone who always seemed one step ahead without any effort at all. It was infuriating for her!!

“Let me up and fight fairly!” she squeaked out, he was putting enough pressure on her wind pipe to let her know he was serious about her not moving, but not quite enough for her to struggle breathing. In fact she had started to panic, between the pressure on her throat and the incredible pain from her shoulder, she had no idea how she was getting out of this, he could simply lean a little harder on her throat and she was done for.

“Do you yield?” Rex asked again.

“NO!” she pushed through gritted teeth. Why is he smiling? He is enjoying seeing me in pain. How was beating me so easy, I have only ever lost to my master!! Why is he this powerful and its so effortless for him and what were the creature legs he conjured? She was at a total loss.

“I am willing to release you, all you have to do is yield.” Rex repeated “believe it or not, I don’t want you dead.”

Seeing no other option but death, she decided to yield, for now. “Fine!” Nessa said in an exasperated tone “I yield”

“Good. About time, I was worried you would push me to do something I would regret later, and trust me, I would deeply regret having to kill you.” Rex added standing on the dagger before letting her stand. “Let me bandage you.”

Nessa was left speechless, not 5 minutes ago she had tried to kill him, yet like at the school yard she had met him in, he was trying to help her. She added to the confusion she felt about him.

“Why?” Nessa said only managing to get one word out.

“Why not? I’m not unreasonable and we don’t have to be enemies.” He said shrugging his shoulders.

“We don’t have to be friends either!” she spat, trying hard to assume her domineering nature again. The more he spoke the less she wanted to continue pursuing him. There was something curious about who and what he was that she wanted to know about.

Nessa was just sitting down when a loud groan from behind them reminded Rex and Nessa that Markus and the twins were still drugged and tied up.

“Whhaatt happened?” said Markus in a groggy voice slowly trying to shake his head.

“Here, let me help you up” Rex chuckled jumping over to help him sit up and untying his hands and feet. “There was a problem, but now its fixed.” He added pointing towards Nessa. To his disappointment it seemed she had disappeared, that was upsetting, Rex had hoped he was making progress with her.

Shortly after Markus had sat up the twins started groaning and waking as well. Rex decided a warm tea would help lift their spirits, so he threw the pot on with some water and a few cups.

“I sense a story here” Markus said looking at Rex humming and seemed completely fine compared to the others.

“We can talk with some tea” he chuckled.

They sat around the campfire with their fresh brews and Rex sat in front of them and proceeded to tell them about his ‘dream’ and who spoke to him, was that a look of shock on Markus’s face? Ill ask him later about that, and then about waking up to see Nessa tying everyone up and how he had tried scare tactic to prevent the fight, showed them the dagger she had. All during the story everyone seemed to listen intently not wanting to miss one detail.

After a few minutes of pondering Markus was first to speak, “You said you spoke to a dragon called ‘Fafnir’?” he said rubbing his chin.

“That’s what he said his name was” Rex replied, confused at his expression.

“Remember the story I told you about how this place was created? There was an elder dragon called Lokmar and his son, that sons name is Fafnir. The effort of creating this place claimed Lokmar’s life and his son took his place as the king of dragons. Your father told me years ago that his families gift was to soul bind with dragons who had chosen them after I witnessed him breath fire. I find it curious that you tell me that name is all seeing as that is the only dragon with that name I know, I’m hoping the Fate Seer can make sense of it all. As for that dagger, either hide it well or destroy it, that aura means a mark of death, the blade cuts any flesh, no matter how large or small, that person will die. Its is a one time use that requires strong feelings towards intended target, Nessa must have had some hatred for you to perform that ritual.”

Hearing about Fafnir definitely made Rex curious, ill be sure to ask him about that next time we meet, he thought to himself. Pondering on what Markus said next, he realized his father could breathe fire!! Rex thought dragon feet was impressive. Then thinking about the dagger he was in two minds, he wasn’t sure if he wanted something that dangerous on him so he asked, “how would I go about destroying it?” he asked Markus.

“Fae fire or dragon fire is the only way I know how to destroy it, the enchantment is one of pure malice designed to inflict pain and death, it needs something pure, like fae fire, or powerful, like dragon fire.” Markus said.

Neither of which I have Rex reminded himself, so he pulled everything out of his bag, wrapped the dagger up in a spare shirt, in hope it wouldn’t cut as easily, and then laid it down carefully into the bottom of the bag and added his things on top of it. He would definitely have to deal with that sooner rather than later.

Seeing the sun coming up on the third day, Rex knew it was time to finally visit the one person who he thought had answers. “When is my meeting with the Fate Seer?” Rex said cheerily.

“Very soon, so we need to move out!” Markus called out to the twins. Packing up their camp, the twins changed into their forms, Rex and Markus saddled up and they began the last part of this journey.

2 Hours Earlier:

Hearing Rex’s companions waking Nessa knew she had to go, how would they understand what had happened and why, and she knew a little about Markus from what her mother had told her, he was one of Rex’s fathers trusted generals and would kill to protect Rex. Once Rex had jumped up to help him Nessa decided to take her leave and disappear.

Jumping up, she dashed towards some long grass that wasn’t too far from their camp, grabbing a small cloth on her way past. This will suffice to pack my wound until I can make it Madame Al’ik in the Kadota Desert, she had always been kind to her mother. Nessa didn’t have an experience dealing with wounds like this but her mother had told her of times Madame Al’ik had saved her from being close to death. Once she had packed it the best she could, Nessa decided it was best she should be on her way, it was going to take a full day to get there, she hoped the wound wouldn’t slow her down too much.

Just before leaving Nessa took one last look towards the camp and to Rex, for some reason his kindness had melted away some of the hatred she had felt, then she saw the dagger she had used to channel her hate towards him and felt a touch of regret. It wasn’t long before she realized she was staring at Rex like a young girl seeing a cute boy for the first time. You are ridiculous Nessa thought, after all you’ve done to him and that’s how you think. Time to leave in case they search for me.

Hopping onto Kal’s back, Rex started the trip around Lake Devon towards Calrend Manor, the twins started telling Rex that is was called Devon Lake due to a knight who was a part of his grandfathers army had lost his mind and ridden his horse into the lake, the horses name was Devon.

“You two are ridiculous” Markus said shaking his head, “it is actually because the lake was built by the father of the woman you’re about to meet, his name was Devon Calrend, he coincidentally built the manor you’re about to enter.”

Hearing that their story was rubbish made Rex break out into laughter, he loved how easily the twins were able to lighten such a sullen mood with their stories and songs.

It didn’t take long for the building to come into sight. Just as Markus had said, it was built right on the edge of a small cliff overlooking the lake. To Rex it looked like it would have taken more than a lifetime to make to make a lake of this size, then remembered with the unbelievable feats he had performed in a short time, maybe it wasn’t so impossible. It was impressive nonetheless.

Dismounting Rex and Markus unloaded the gear and the twins regained their forms. “This is where we leave you, for now anyways.” Markus added. “what you are about to be told is for you.”

Raz added in, “don’t forget, make friends.” Winking as he said it.

Seeing the look of worry about leaving them, Markus said, “We will be here when you come out.”

Feeling a little more reassured, Rex shook their hands, thanking them, turned and started towards the door.

Raising his hand to knock, the door opened.

“Hello!!” he called in.

“I have been waiting for you.” Came a voice from inside.