Dragon Frost (5 page)

“
Not much
further, just at the end of this gorge.”

“
It’s a
big gorge.” he confirms as he regards the massive cliff walls
around him where the forest sits still enclosed in a large silver
stone bowl around us, from under his clothed sash he wrapped around
his features to protect his pale skin from burns. However, it
wasn’t as effective as I hoped it would be. I touch my nose once
his gaze rests on me. “Oh that . . . it’s nothing, just a sun
burn.” he brushes it off. Still he has no freckles or moles like
some people I’ve come to know his skin is ridiculously clear that I
notice can’t even tan.

“
Do you
need some rub?” I ask he looks at me with confusion. I pull out a
silver circular dish and move from where I am over to him. This is
something I’ve kept in my utility belt from my world but use it
generously since I have no idea when I’ll be able to return home. I
remove the lid and dip my scaleless finger where my suit
successfully recedes around my wrist, into the transparent gel. I
rub the cream onto his nose attentively. I had no idea why I was
doing it, maybe because I never burn, nor do I tan. He tenses and I
stop. “I’m not hurting you . . . am I?” he shakes his head and I
finish applying the rest and hand it to him. “Use this for wounds
or burns. It cleanses and heals the skin.” I point out and move to
the opposite end of the campfire. I notice his face is still red
but even more so.

He really is
odd.

“
Th-thanks.” he stutters and I nod. I knew what I did but I
couldn’t bring myself to stop. Next time I’ll try not to act so
impulsively. That was so out of character for me. I compose myself
and continue eating my meal. The night is calm for several moments
and I reflect back on the several encounters I’ve had so far. I
have no idea why but every just seemed so set on having the
package. I’m starting to wonder what it is. I haven’t even been
told what it is and I’m a high ranking officer. That is something
that annoys me more than anything. “What’s your name?”

“
What?”

“
Your
name.” he urges with a straight face.

“
Kalverya.”

The next
day, we ride again, this time we are silent. The air is packed with
an uncomfortable silence that I can figure where it came from—I
refuse to allow myself to fall to such
vulnerability. 
It’s pointless. I’d rather take a bullet than repeat that
imprudent urge.
 The
air is thin and I pull my horse up. Varden stops beside me. “What
is it?”

“
Something’s wrong.” The forest remains stagnant around us,
the dirt trail we roam down remains motionless and the air is thin.
I stare at the swaying leaves as the wind dances around me in a
gentle whisper.

“
Kalverya . . .”
 I hear it call my name. It repeats
again.
 ”
Kalverya . . .”
 I
stare at the dancing trees. The wind can’t talk and I know that
Varden doesn’t hear it. I can still feel his eyes on me but I focus
on the area around us, something is here, something is with
us—something dangerous. 
” Kalverya . . .”

“
Stay
close.” I say as I pull out my Prevail.

“
What’s
wrong?” he asks with a hint of fear in his profound
voice.

“
We’re
not alone.”

A
switchblade flies towards me and I bring up my blade over my
centre, a cling occurs throughout the forest path and I see nothing
move. Varden gasps. “Where the hell did 
that
 come from?” he questions eyes wide like
saucers. I stand on the saddle of my horse, hearing another ear
piercing sound I flip from the horse where I legs split sending the
blade from its course into the ground before me where I, now stand.
The earth is firm under my feet. The trees remain lifeless now, the
breeze is gone and I feel the scales on my neck rise. My eyes dart
around unsure of where to go.

Knives fly out
of the trees continuously and I flip out of the way, in a rhythmic
dance fluidly moving around every blade I can see horizontally
attacking me. They were faint to the regular eyes but mine are
sharp and well trained for this sort of attack. I had to face the
commencement of hostilities similar to this several years back
where many, of my men and women died, though some managed to make
it out alive, from the unforeseen ambush.

Now I
realise that the whispering sound from earlier, not the sound of my
name but that gentle whistling sound. 
“The Package . . .”
 I hear a male voice echo around me.
Suddenly, five black and red men and women armed in fierce blades
appear out of nowhere, appear before me as transparent outlines
before becoming solid; lastly it was the man from before who also
repeats the process before. His raven black hair falls in waves
around his face complementing the black, deadly, look in his eye.
“Looks like we meet again,”

“
The 
Messenger
, I
presume.” I retort. “And here I didn’t think you’d show your face.
I’m impressed.” I force a faint smile and like that I’m in
battle.

“
Kalverya!” I hear Varden call, at the corner of my eye I
see that his horse stands on its hind leg where several of the men
in the same uniform as those before me, move to pull down Varden. I
release my knives and they embed themselves in their heads. Their
bodies fall to the ground. I turn to the others before me, who
swing their blades in a skilful manner; I’m just pleased that they
hadn’t invented firearms yet. The idea of crossbows and archers
didn’t sit well with me either. I block parry and avoid much of
their blades as possible. The men from formerly stands watching me
battle his minions. How I really want to knock that smile from his
face crosses my mind every now and again—aiming to keep him in my
line of sight.

I take
down the first two women, quickly knowing that I’ll need more time
for their male counterpart. The more I take out the less the head
man appears to smile. The man launches at me and his blade slides
against mine again and again, the women manage to stand on their
feet while my blade and his is currently preoccupied. I kick one
than the other, separating my blade from my previous force. I hear
a thud behind me but don’t look, I jump and knee the man in the
head before flipping over him where I wrap a line around his
throat, I yank and his head is removed.

I propel
myself from his form and roll along the ground where I land
crouching, two women quick and nimble as I am move to fight me. I
balance my weight on my hands and swing my legs around until my
legs were vertical, I flip back and pull out my blade I had
sheathed when I ascended the larger man. I thrust it into the torso
of the first woman pulling back, I step around my second foe,
slicing her throat in the process and she falls to the ground eyes
wide and empty. I hear a cry from several voices above me but from
behind, by the time I can register what they were they were shot
down with arrows in their backs. I turn to Varden, his face grim,
as he holds a bow and arrow. “And here I thought you were weak.”
retorts the man.

“
I’m
sorry who are you?” I question.

“
Galavin.” he utters with a mocking bow, “I thought you
would be easy to handle.”

“
Don’t
underestimate what you do not understand.”

“
Oh but I
do, understand. You’ve lost your abilities as a Nefaliem and now
you’re stranded here on this world with
these 
people
.” He
stresses the word: 
people
 and scowls at Varden, where I hear the pulling of the
sting, the wood of the arrow rubbing against the
bow. 
He’s ready to shoot!

“
That may
be true but I’m far from weak.” I say. I point my blade, “Your
turn.” Galavin regards me with dark eyes and an unreadable
expression, it is different from the cocky grin he had only moments
before. Still it doesn’t surprise me how quick a person’s
expression can change when they are faced with the reality of a
particular situation.

“
Maybe
some other time. I merely wanted to observe.” He vanishes with a
gush of smoke. I scowl.

“
He’s
creepy.”

“
I
agree.” admits Varden as I hear the string relax and the brush of
the arrow against the wood, “What was all that about you losing
your abilities?”

“
Nothing.” I say as I turn to him where he stands beside the
horses.

“
Where
did you get that?” I ask eyeing the bow and arrow he has. His eyes
fall to one of the men that tried to pull him from his
horse.

“
I didn’t
think he’ll be needing It.” he confesses. His face is soft; I feel
a tinge of guilt for killing them in front of him.

“
We
should get going, the sooner we leave the gorge the better. Also .
. .” I begin, he mounts the horse before turning to face me, “keep
that bow and those arrows close by. I have a feeling we’re going to
be attacked again but only if you can handle killing, release the
arrow.” I say slowly and he nods.

“
I
understand.”

“
Good,
let’s go.” By the time we leave the lush gorge, its mid-day, from
where we are, riding along the side of the winding path that leads
to the top of the gorge, the forest seems very peaceful but I knew
it was anything but that. Appearances can be deceptive. There is a
town not too far away that we manage to reach by nightfall without
any more trouble, not that I’m complaining.

We manage
to find lodgings and the air and everything seems normal—or close
enough. I still make sure my room was close enough to Varden’s in
case. I would always tell myself that I was just this close to
protect him but there were times when I would question; why am I
protecting him? Finding my mind restless on the matter, I move from
my bed and open my window. I slip out into the night.

The air is calm
and warm. I leap across alleyways that break the buildings and the
roves I easily glide across finding the highest point I make my way
to the Cathedral in the distance. Once I made it, I scale the rough
walls and heave myself above the roof of the bell tower. The view
from it, vividly displays the whole town of Deseryx. The glowing
lanterns were lit here and there like fireflies. The sight was
breath-taking even for me, still it feels like, this place is the
only place I have to think and ground myself. Then I hear a clatter
of footsteps upon the same dense tiles not too far from me with the
persistent tattering, I find it difficult to miss.

I duck
around and behind the large crucifix, my hands grasping it
carefully. I glance across the stacks of unmoving and still houses,
to see a glowing silhouette, his back is to the moon, he’s dressed
in all white as luminous and present as a full moon. He wears a
hood; he leaps from the ledge to another roof and moves quickly
along the slating. I make the unnecessary mistake of following
him—keeping several meters back but ensuring he stays within my
line of sight.

He’s
quick, though. Surprisingly he’s on route to the lodgings we are
currently staying at. The large stone building in the distance
ahead of us, with four large towers, the lights that lit the inn is
encouragement for this man and I wondered why he was after it
before I pull out my blade and realise what exactly he
is.

An
Assassin!

If he is
what I think he is, I might not be able to allow him to walk away
unharmed. If he is after the package than we have a real problem,
the question is: 
why would they send an Assassin for a pick
up?
 My eyes drift
to the Inn and I realise than the package may not be exactly what I
thought it was to begin with. I can smell the colder air of the
next day. I propel myself over the wooden fence on the roof where I
stood on a balcony, hidden hopefully from his peripheral
vision.

I knew
than I would have to get to Varden before he did, I drop down from
the roof and sprint down the streets, passing several people who
eye me with frustration and confusion. I didn’t care not did I slow
down, by the time I made it back to the Inn I was fairly sure I’m
ahead of the Assassin. I pass the counter where the receptionist
eyed me with oddness. I storm up the stairs where, I see the same
man in white from outside one of the windows.

I hide
around a corner for a second and wait. I check once again and he’s
gone. I frown. 
He’s like a phantom. There one minute gone the
next.
 I quickly
pace towards Varden’s room, I rap the door gently at first hearing
no movement I rap it again with more force. I finally hear movement
on the other side of the door, “I’m coming. I’m coming.” I hear him
mutter under his breath. Once he opens the door, I push past him.
“Kalverya? What are you doing in my room?”

“
Pack,
we’re leaving.” I say.

“
What!”
he growls in frustration. Crossing his arms over his body, I only
than realise he’s wearing a towel. I turn away. “You know you
caught me at a bad time.” he admits in reference to where my eyes
landed.

“
Sorry
about that but someone’s after us.” I say. He freezes. I move over
to the curtain and wait, I peer out and see nothing, and he’s gone
once again. I sigh at my frustration. 
He is a very evasive man!