Haze of Dusk (A trilogy) (16 page)

“Time of arrival: fourteen days. In these fourteen days Judyala has...one, committed impertinent acts towards superior heads, three violated rules. Two, c
ommitted loud activity acts, eight broken rules. Three, ill-mannered, request facility changes, eight broken rules. Four, provoke and fighting among others—”

“That wasn’t my fa
ult. He hit me first!” I snap. All eyes turn to me, they’re stunned by my big mouth. Hell, I’m startled myself.
Judyala, control your temper.
Srogeri shakes his head in dismay.
I’m sorry old man
. “Interrupt again, and we will add more rule breaking to your record," the headmistress threatens, her eyes on Ragumus. She is so repelled by me she can’t even confront me. Ragumus clears his throat, “provoke and fighting among others… fifteen rule breakages.” I sneer, fifteen rules broken when it wasn’t my fault. Where is the freedom of speech?

“Four, take another warrior’s identity,
fourteen rule breakage. Five, utilize magic inside the castle, the transformation, twenty-five rule breakage. And lastly, with all others of her bad performances that we have not yet mentioned, the rules Judyala Zayras have broken are a total of eighty-four rules in fourteen days…never in our life…have we seen this conduct…this means, instant death.” The man’s voice shakes as he speaks. Is my ill-discipline so overwhelming?

“What do you have to say for y
ourself, Miss Zayras?” She asks with her hands on her hips. Damn, and that is discounting the poisoning. This is all Ramuso’s fault.

“Death,
definitely give me death.” I say trying to admit the truth, but my words appear to be amusing, for half the room burst into laughter.  Sandrine's eyes rise, and the leaders stare at me stupefy. “Do you have a death wish Miss Zayras?" She hisses.
I hear that a lot
. "Do you not care about your life?”  Her bitching irritates me. I wonder if she's married. If she is, I pity the poor fool, with her bragging anyone would want to suicide. “We all die someday,” I clearly state.
Yes, keep talking crap, Judyala
.
They’re seriously going to hang you.
She scoffs, staring at me in dismay.  From the corner of my eyes, I see a familiar man. It’s Khysso, and his glower is mysteriously obscured.

“Since Miss Zayras doesn’t care about her life
, perhaps she cares about others. Announce Srogeri’s verdict,” my eyes rise. I shake my head in panic.

“
For betraying, lying, and deceiving our court, Vin Srogeri will be punished with immediate death.”

“No wait! It wasn’t his faul
t it was mine. I made him do it!” I raise my voice. They stare stump by my tone. “Please leave him out of this…please…give him a second chance.” I lower my tone, for him, I’ll lose my pride.

“Bu
t… I thought someday we all die,” that bitch, did she just rank me down with my own words. I’m going to go hectic. If they give me no choice, I swear I will fight. “Don’t hurt him…I’ll do anything. Take me instead.” I insist, now they know my weak point is my old man.

“Oh, but we are not
done…continue with her verdict.” I don’t know what it is, but that woman can wake up the flames in me. “Judyala Zayras, since your witchcraft can be used for the castle, we have decided to forgive immediate death and condemn you by immediately sending you to mount cavern of death, where the sleeping dragon slumbers.” Everyone talks at once.  I sense they fear my condemnation. I scowl. I don’t have a clue of what the cavern of death is.  It sounds chilling, but is it deadly? 

“We will give you one entire day for survival. If not arrived
past the next sundown with one of the heads of the dragon, Srogeri will lose his head. However, if you bring one of the heads of the dragon, we shall grant Srogeri life, and instant forgiveness to you.” I pant. That’s not so bad. If I come back, I save both of us, but if I die, then we will be fifteen feet deep within the ground. Sounds...fair...I guess.

“Do you understand what this mean
s, Miss Zayras? The life of your beloved is in your hands. You die…he dies,” can she say it a little crueler. I seriously hate this bitch. “Perfect!” I say nastily, and they noticed. She stares at me stupor. I roll my eyes at her. “K- Khysso Shorewen,” she calls with a squeal. Khysso comes out from the instructors group and walks towards her. He bows to her. I scoff. I'm amazed by the intimidation this woman causes the prick. Never did I think he would look up to someone. “You have been chosen to lead, Miss Zayras to the cavern, and wait for her. If by the next sundown she's not out, the cavern will be closed by you, and she will be left inside, understood,”
she loves commanding.

“Yes, M
adam,” he agrees with a nod.

“Prepare yourselves, in one-hourglass you shall depart. Verdict is over,” she shouts and walks away with her s
laves…I mean companions. Khysso’s eyes meet mine. “You have one hour to prepare yourself,” he utters and looks down at the floor. I scoff.
“I heard her. I'm not deaf.” I say nastily, disliking him for being a male whore. He lifts his head, staring at me in dismay. I pull a face, demonstrating my repulsion towards him with my nasty-expression. I hurry away from him, leaving him alone. I run to Srogeri, whom the guards now take.

“Wait…”
I shout. They halt for a moment. I try giving my old man a hug but one of the guards points his staff at me. “You move that away from me before I blow your ass into pieces.” I threaten. The guard's eyes rise. I can see a sudden anxiety.

“Let them speak!” Vaniele commands from a distan
t. I childishly taunt the guard. They move away from us. “Do you have to be reckless?” He scolds. I purse my lips, “I’m sorry, for this…this is all my fault,” he places a hand on my head.

“It is not your fault….wear that stone… an
d come back to me,” he whispers. I chuckle. “Definitely…I won’t let it go. I promise.”
Not a day with your body and already lying, Judyala. You should be ashamed of yourself.

“
Judyala, let us prepare you.” Vaniele calls. She is my watch guard ordered by the headmistress. But unlike Srogeri, I’m fond of Vaniele, and I trust her. I kiss Srogeri's polished forehead, and sadly watch the guards take him away.

Hendra is her name, my given black with gold draghorn, but unlike many I’ve seen, she’s different, she’s beautiful. She resembles more a horse, with plenty of hair to grab and a horse snout. Her eyes are green, and her wings are gristly yet the combination of colors makes her an outstanding creature. It’s her tail that’s thick and long, dragging the floor. I caress her hair. She is at still and is very lovable.

“Here, you will need this,” Vaniele gives me a bag with six large pouches of water
, and plenty of antidotes.  “It’s really hot in there. You are going to need all the water you can carry.” I smile at her.

“
Thanks for everything. Take care of my old man…although he hates you…” I say thoughtful. She giggles. I peek at Khysso, who waits on his draghorn. We are outside the castle, near the gateway to the outside world. The hour is passing by. My time to leave has arrived. “If I don’t make it—”

“Judyala!
You will make it back. I will see you soon.” Her positive words twist my skin. What an optimistic way of thinking. “Now go…he awaits,” I nod. I'm about to hop on my draghorn who sits, but loud howling swipes my attention. I gaze straight to the path to find familiar faces. Their appearance pushes my heart down my tummy. I wobble. Their presence makes me sappy.

“You’re not going to leave without
saying good-bye," Ramuso yells, with him are the rest. My body jolts me to them, and although Vaniele cries my name, I overlook her concern. My friends are more important. I toss my hands around Ramuso and closely embrace him. He briskly returns my hug, chortling. “You can do that now… it was weird when you tried before, but now it’s good,” he jokes. Oh yes, the times I tried to hug him forgetting I was a boy, were numerous. 

I pull away and caress his cheeks, “
so good to see you.” I whisper, my gentleness making him anxious. I can tell for he rubs the back of his head.  “What about my hug?” Osys says, but Onnet quickly requests one too. I rush to them and hug them both. Onnet inhales my aura, his head on my neck,

“I kind of figure
d it out. Your smell is so delightful. It did not suit you before…hmmm...so good…” Onnet’s weirdness freaks me out, so I yank from him in a nervous laughter.

On a corner, I see Iku
mus, still a lone-wolf and dry like a dehydrated rose. I step a foot to go to him.“Don’t even think about it. Nothing has changed.” He says as if reading my mind. I chuckle. Seriously, that fellow has problems. I sigh, lastly meeting with him, sweet Corr. He stands smiley. Meeting with him my cheeks burn. His face still takes my breath away.  I walk towards him, afraid to embrace him like the others. It is different with him. There are emotions in me I don’t want to reveal.

“This is for you, from all of us,” he hands me a brown sh
oulder bag. “For your adventure.” I press my lips together, and look inside. Inside there are three knives, in which belongs to Corr. It is his valuable knives, once belonged to his brother. I smile at him, and continue digging— an amethyst amulet draws my attention, for it belonged to Ramuso’s deceased mother, it means the world to him. I'm surprised he's giving it to me. I pull it out, and put it around my neck, showing him I’ll value it and always carry it with me. “It looks good on you,” he says diffidently.

“
Of course it does, it’s for girls.” Onnet bothers him as usual, but Ramuso counterattacks him by reminding him of his love for knitting.

I continue digging.
Inside there is a knitted ball. I purse my lips and radically confuse I pull it out. “It’s made with Isolia,” he adds. I gasp, finally understanding. Isolia is a powerful mist that in contact with pressure it explodes bringing out a drowsy fog.

“Thanks, I’ll definitely need it for my adventure,” I
say. I search more in the bag. An arrow in a wooden case takes my breath away. It can’t be. Ikumus is gifting me his rare golden arrow— deadly if touched. The paralyzing poison is bound to work on anything. I gape dumbfounded. I view him. He crosses his hands and looks away. “He really likes you. Don’t tell him I told you.” Corr whispers. I giggle. That’s hard to believe. I rest down the arrow and take out the last thing inside the bag, a metallic boot string. I gape disoriented.

“It’s my lucky string.
” Osys says making us break into laughter. 

“Enough time wasted.
Judyala, let us go!” Khysso commands. I chuckle annoyed by his voice. “Whatever,
prick
,” I murmur. My friends hysterically laugh at my comment, Ramuso high fives me, now I've really joined the,
I hate Khysso team.

“Thank you. All of you…Corr…” I blush. I want to hug him, but fear holds me back
. I breathe in and lean forward. I press my lips on the corner of his mouth. Pulling from him our eyes meet. Before he notices my redness I hurry to my draghorn. I hop on Hendra, and wave good-bye. I'm thrilled to return. For they have confirmed to be my real friends after all.

-
13
-

Deadly Flames

Cavern of death is between the
northern and southern war castle.  It's on the highest mountain of Rock grotto land. A critical place filled with arclaws, giant ogres, and orcs.  We have no choice but to leave our draghorns beneath the hills, and climb on foot for the draghorns alone call the arclaws thirst.  Meaning, they will consider our rides their meals. “Go to a secure area. Come back past sunset.” Khysso pats his draghorn’s head. I smile. It’s the first time I see Khysso being lovely. His draghorn must be his confider.  Shockingly, the draghorn nods, and stretches its wings flying away. My Hendra follows Khysso’s draghorn as if she too understood his command. I seal my lips. I wonder if that's Jabil, the same draghorn we rode years ago.

“Come!
” Khysso orders and heads to a plain path that escalates to the top. I follow him, but he moves quick leaving me behind. I try to walk at his pace, but he moves faster, as if he wants to avoid me. My gut tells me he’s angry at me, for he frowns, and ignores my concerns.  Could it be he’s mad, for I nastily talked to him at the great hall?

The sun
s are fading yet the temperature still burns. The air fairly suffocates me. My delicate skin rapidly reddens, and I hear myself wheeze heavy breaths. Since the outside training I’ve become stronger, and I can walk longer without complaining. Also, I feel as if my body has toned up.

After a long hush journey, we reach a lofty peak that encloses us with heavy gray limestone. The place is abandoned by life, and by nature.
“We are here.” He says inserting a grimy uncovered surface. I sneer. Is this it? The scary cavern everyone fears, for I see nothing but an area conserved with walls of rocks and a desiccated ground, in which the soil looks more like sand and the rocks ascend tall. We weren't near the top of the mountain, but possibly amidst. Vaniele revealed for hundreds of years nobody has survived the cavern, except three years ago there was a first survivor. Khysso Shorewen was asked to search for a treasure for the Srovio, since he's fearless and the strongest he accepted the mission, and came back alive. Of course he returned. He has my stone—the undying my ass.

Khysso saunters through the tall walls with a
stretch hand, moving it around the rocks. I watch him bemused. He briefly stops, and gazes at a wall motionless.

“I found
the opening. It's here… come…” he persists. I prepare my equipment and hurry to him. “I will open the gateway. Now, are you ready?” I rush a nod. The walls begin to quiver. It's there I grasp why the headmistress restrictedly ordered for the cavern to be closed if I didn't come out on time. It’s magically created, and I don’t have the wisdom in how to open or close it, meaning if Khysso closes the cavern, I will stay inside forever. “It is set…find the dragon’s head and come back before the next sundown. You have twenty-four hours," my heart accelerates. It hits me like a hook falling down a ship. I’m going to battle this on my own. I hold my shoulder bag firmly and take a step forward.

“Judyala,” he
calls. It’s the first time in a long time he calls me by my name. I slightly turn to him. He picks up his arm in a fist, and opens his thick-manly hand. My eyes rise. He holds the Siren stone. “Take it… it is yours…” I’m confound by his decision. Is he really giving it to me, but why?

“I do—”

“Just take it. Stop being so capricious,” he cuts in a growl.
I’m not capricious.
Whatever, he’s right. It’s mine
. I put my hand over his. The earth trembles sturdily, impossible to hold still. We lose our balances. Khysso and I fall to the ground as the stone rolls away from us. “The stone!” I yell crawling to it. I extend my hand, magically bringing it to me.   I clasp the stone and sigh in relief. But a fracturing noise steals my attention. I wheeze in panic. Beneath me, the earth splits briskly consuming me.  “Judyala,” Khysso shouts. He reaches out a hand seizing mine, halting me from falling down the hollow.  My body hangs in the air. My slippery hand, bit by bit slips from his. 

“Give
me your other hand!” he groans.

“I can’t,
I’m holding the stone…”

“Give me your damn hand!” he bellows in terror. A massive rock falls down from the top wall, fiercely shattering the ground, creating more turbulence. My hand slides from Khysso. I release my other hand to grasp a jammed-rock that obtrudes
from the core of the surface. I gape as the stone falls into the hollow.
My mother’s gift… gone forever, this time for real.
A pressure elevates me. Khysso uses his magic to lift me. Once I step ground he secures my hand, and we sprint, for plenty of rocks fall from the mountain. We wish to focus on our powers to stop the rocks. If not, we will be buried by them, but because of the abnormal speed of the rocks, Khysso has a better idea, and together we jump inside the open portal, entering the cavern of death.

A heat wave bolts through the area. I cough
inconsiderately. The thick dust that encircles our surrounding is unsafe to inhale. The cave is falling apart. The sounds of the rocks smashing still thrust hard. I gaze around. The dust derives my sight, but I hear Khysso’s groaning. I follow his moaning. Something tells me he's not well.

“Khysso…where are you?
" I worry. I crawl in search for him. Against the wall, I see a figure.  I gasp. Khysso bleeds from the top of his arm. I dash to him, overlooking the dust around us.  “Oh-no, you’re hurt…it’s because you didn’t have the stone… oh lord, the stone.” 

“Could you stop thinking about the damn stone!” he snaps. What’s wrong with me? He’s in pain, and I’m dumbly
being thoughtless. “Don’t worry, I’ll heal you…” I move closer to him. “Heal me…” he says doubtful, the dusk clings on his dark hair.  I slowly undress him. A sharp rock has penetrated the gentle skin between his arm and chest. I carefully pull it out. He groans, but takes the pain well. I search my bag for a small clear container with a water like substance. Like a good healer, I clean the wound with Exafolic; a disinfectant that helps restores the internal.  Healers could easily mend, but if not done correctly the process might damage the injured. I let the remedy foam, and I lay my hands over his wound. I let the renewed energy take over me, releasing it to him. My hands glow cherry, gradually sealing his wound. The mess of blood stays behind. I breathe roughly. I'm glad the cut closed, and he can move his arm with no trouble. This means all is well.

“Your witchcraft comes in handy after all,” he
utters standing. I violently glare at him. “I am not a
witch
. Female arclaws are witches…I’m not a
damn
arclaw,” I hiss at him. He grimaces, “you have an attitude problem,” he says putting back his bloody shirt.  I open my mouth about to snap, but I’m overcome by his hard-rock body. Khysso Shorewen's body is unbelievably perfect. His muscles are slim. His chest and stomach rip— the bronze of his skin daringly captivating. What is wrong with the men in Doomsvell, why the damn hot body? I swivel, not wanting him to notice how suddenly heat provokes my tension.

“Why is it so hot in here?
I can barely breathe,” my throat is dry. The temperature instantly makes me sweat, but I’m not sure if it’s truly hot, or these are my female desires detonating. “And we are just starting. The closer you get, the hotter it will get. Take it from me, it will be disturbing.” He says.  I peek at him. He wears his top. I sigh in relief, thankful for the clothing on him. “Now that I’m stuck here, follow me. I will show you the way.” He walks ahead of me. My prior anxiety is gone. For some reason, with him, I know I'm secure.

The further we enter the carven, the
more a hot vapor swifts our way shutting us down. We cover our faces, preventing the heat waves from destroying the uncovered skin. Breathing becomes a severe complication. I have to gasp in order to gulp down
air. We arrive into a bright room. The limestone walls are crimson of the heat it has captured.  “Careful, do not get too close to the walls. It will melt you.” Khysso says as he strides ahead. I frown. Even if he didn't mention it, there's no way in hell I’ll touch that red wall, for it looks unsafe. Passing the scorching walls, the tiny hairs on my arms begin to tingle until it fades. My skin creases, a fiery bristle burns my insides. I sweat a manner I never have, dropping to the warm grimy ground.

“I can’t…I can’t go further…” I
breathe heavily. I’m fussy by the heat.  Khysso walks to me. “It is going to get hotter. You have to be stronger,” he takes my bag and digs in it. If I had any strength I would reproach his snooping, but my weakness overpowers any hurdle. He looks at the remedies and smells the water. He scowls. Tactfully, he pours a combination of the remedy into a pouch of water. “Drink this,” I grasp the water and drink. I gag, and slam the water back to him. It tastes like a rotten lemon, with orange zest. “It’s sour and disgusting.” He chuckles.

“Drink it. It'll stre
ngthen your skin, and influence your respiratory system. It will help you continue, for the heat will be greater. Go,” he shoves it back to me. I take it from his hand. I cover my nose and swallow the disgust.  I take a deep breath, and I grab another pouch of water to remove the bad taste out of my mouth. I sip; my eyes on him.  He stands still, wearing his black collared cloak, yet, he doesn’t shed a sweat. “Y-you’re…you’re not hot? Why…you’re not sweating…” I stutter, distress by how perfect he looks. 

"It's not as hot as you think." He
says arrogantly.
What is he implying with that, that I’m puny?
“And I can take the heat better than others—hurry up. We have to get to the dragon. That antidote won’t work forever.”
You better make things better.

“Let the antidote work. I still feel as if I’m drowning in this heat.” I pour water on my head, wetting me entirely. The refreshment drains the
blazing sensation that eats my skin. Khysso gives me his back, staring away. The memory of him and Casandree together crosses my mind, heating my inside, causing discomfort. I shake my head in disgust. Really, to taint the environment by doing that thing is just repulsive. Don’t they have a bedroom, why meet there? 

“Bastards…” I
garble sipping from my almost empty pouch. Khysso turns to meet me. He stares at me with those devious eyes I dislike. “Come again? What did you say?”
Why sound so polite you sick man-whore.
 

“I can’t believe we lost the stone…” I
say softly, not wanting to demonstrate my anger. “Believe me. That stone was as important to me as to you,” I scoff.

“Really, why
is it so important? Let me guess, because it has kept you alive? Its invulnerability, it’s
so
important to you, ehh?” I suppose in a nasty tone. I’m suddenly annoyed by his immorality, his presence, his smell. “That stone was the only memory I had of my mother. It meant a lot more to me, unlike you,” I sass.

“Then why did you lend it
to me in the first place? That’s if it was
sooo
important to you,” he ridicules me. I gnash my teeth hating his repellent way of expressing. “You’re a prick,” I hiss drinking the bit of my water. Khysso glares.

“
Isn’t that what you and your immature friends call me behind my back? Do you think I don’t hear?
Prick
…what an indecent word for a young lady to say. But then again…you are no lady.” I stand in a rush wanting to punch him right in the face, of all people, why do I have to share my time with him? “I think we should continue before this gets ugly.” And I mean it, for my heart is accelerating in rage.

“Tell you what,
girl. I’m not taking your attitude and disrespectfulness any longer. There’s no need for me to continue doing this. Do it yourself." The fury in him is clear. He drifts away. I assume he’s going back to the entrance. I laugh loudly, hoping he hears me. “Whatever, I don’t need you. I can do it on my own!” I yell, but he’s gone. I’m deranged with anger. "Yeah, go back to your whore you hog." I say under my breath. An inner sore pierces my tummy. What just happened… did we just argue? I'm the one who should be mad, not him.

I gaze at my surrounding.
There are three different paths. Regret suddenly flows in my thoughts. I pick the nearest passage and head down the dark alleyway. The antidote helps me support the heat, along with smooth inhalations. I follow many paths that lead me to a loop that brings me back to the beginning. It is there I grasp I’m rotating the cavern.
I must be doing something wrong.

“Alright this is wrong!
” I grumble standing in the same spot Khysso left me. Seriously, why did I let him go? What went on inside me? I take another track, this time I know I’m going the right way for the temperature rises. Finally, I’m pursuing the correct track, a place that crinkles my skin. The blackness I walk into blinds my sight, becoming a problem. But I disregard it and continue, hoping to find an ending and the dragon’s nest. “I must be close…” I say feeling a briskly hot gust—a swift yet rough hand grapples my arm and yanks me. I recognize his heavy pant.

“Not one s
tep further…” he says. I frown. I want to kick him for aggressively taking me, but I’m also relief to see him. Khysso jostles a white fire into the ceiling, illuminating the room. What he reveals squeezes my heart and heaves it to my stomach. The startling scene almost knocks my socks off. There’s lava on the narrow trail. One more step of mine, and I would’ve turn into flames. I put a hand on my chest. I’m grateful, and I seek to embrace him, but I hold my desires.