PRINCE NEFARI

A PAIR OF GLEAMING scarlet eyes stared through the darkness as steam rose from the dark nostrils of a black dragon's snout. It was true. Father had captured a vicious black dragon to pry information from it, and this dragon seemed interested to see him.

The dragon stepped forward, its wings dragging the floor with spears run through them. It arched its neck to show off its massive size that overtook the room. The dragon's horns brushed the ceiling, causing a wave of dust to shower down upon the trio. Nefari covered his head, shaking bits of debris from his hair.

"It has been years since I have seen your face, young one," the dragon rumbled softly, its voice giving the essence of a female.

Nefari took a step back. He never expected the dragon to be so interested in his life, or to even know him. The dragon tilted her head, blinking red eyes like a reptile. She lowered her head, stopping just in front of Nefari.

"Why have you waited so long to come see me?" she asked.

Nefari shivered. He didn't know what to say. The beast was stronger than him, capable of swallowing him whole in a split second, and she wanted to speak to him. He glanced at the elf girl, unsure of what to make of the situation.

"I... I don't know you? I didn't even know my father kept a dragon prisoner in the dungeon," Nefari explained.

Without responding, the dragon lifted her head. "And who might you be, elf?"

Drawing a dagger, the elf girl braced herself. "Lissie of Sal Elunore, daughter of Dro and Alta."

"Hm. A half-breed of both ethnicities. A rare but interesting sight," the dragon hummed. "Tell me, what you do think of black dragons?"

Lissie narrowed her eyes. "Everyone knows black dragons are evil, tainted by the need to cause chaos and murder."

The dragon bared her fangs, drawing her lips back into a grin. "I am known as Vayphessa, Queen of the Black Dragons. Six years ago, I was taken captive by King Dario to harvest my scales and knowledge of all dragonkin. He even took my acid sac and made me weaker as a result. I am of no threat to you now."

Shivering at the words, Nefari backed away. Father had betrayed the kingdom for his greed of power. This explained the new armor designs in the past three years and how their weapons were able to cause acid damage. It just didn't make any sense why Father would go to such lengths. It was betrayal upon their people... upon Mother.

Lissie stepped forward, a wisp of air circling her as golden light encompassed her fingers. "That doesn't change the fact that you are a threat. Many people have died as a result of your kind going to war with King Ryndredit."

Vayphessa arched her neck, eyes flickering like the hot flames of a bonfire. "I am sorry that you see it that way. My kin have been unjustly charged with cruel acts for seeking justice. How ironic what this world has become."

The commoner stepped forward, their eyes focused only on the dragon. Lissie reached out to stop them, but her grasp was too late. The commoner stopped six feet in front of the dragon, who peered down at them quizzically.

"And who are you? I sense... No, you have yet to meet your dragon," Vayphessa said, eyes narrowing slightly. She reached out a paw and touched a talon to the commoner's chest.

Lissie shot forward, her hand glowing a brighter gold, turning nearly white as she dove for the dragon's paw. Still lost in whatever trance they were under, the commoner's hand shot out and grabbed the dagger with his leather gloved hand. Lissie froze.

"I see," Vayphessa chuckled, as if she was having a telepathic conversation with the commoner.

"Kill her!" Lissie commanded. She tugged at the dagger, but it stayed put, like the commoner's grip was made of iron. "She'll kill you if you don't stop her! Do you want your kingdom to be torn to shreds by this unruly beast?"

Vayphessa pulled her claw away from the commoner and lowered her head. The commoner stepped closer, their hand touching the chain wrapped around her neck. It was thick, made of mathil, a commonly known dragon-trapper metal. The commoner mouthed a single word, one Nefari and Lissie couldn't hear, and a flash of green light emitted from the commoner's hands with an echoing tink and heaving groans of metal. As quickly as the flash appeared, it vanished, leaving behind a shattered chain as it slipped free of Vayphessa's neck.

The commoner stumbled back, blinking rapidly. "Wha...What happened?"

Lissie glared at him. "You freed the damn dragon!"

"Huh?" The commoner looked at the dragon, their face paling as Vayphessa stood up, stretching out her reptilian body.

"Thank you, little one. May your dragon be forever useful in your future," she said, spreading her tattered wings and shaking the spears from them. They clattered to the ground and resulted in loud echoes bouncing around the room.

Nefari covered his ears. He knew metal had created obnoxious noises, but he never thought it would be this loud. Father had forbidden him to train on the fields with the soldiers, declaring him to be taught by the finest sword masters in the kingdom as he was the prince and future heir to the throne.

When the clanging stopped, Nefari uncovered his ears to see Lissie and the commoner arguing. He glanced at the dragon, and she peered at him with a smile showing off her sharp, jagged teeth.

"Go ahead and stop me! You put everyone in danger and for what? Some weird conversation you had with the dragon?" Lissie snapped.

"I don't know! Something tells me there is more to the story. We need more answers. I believe Vayphessa has the knowledge of what really happened six years ago. She may even had answers on what happened to my family!"

"Your family doesn't-"

"She says I have a dragon!" the commoner snapped. Their fists clenched as they shook their head. Confusion was written in their eyes. "Whatever that means is connected to my bloodline. I have magick too. I always have, but hid it away because this kingdom forbids it. I'm not a threat, but I need answers to who I am. You say dragons aren't dangerous, then let me find have a connection to this."

Vayphessa snorted, steam billowing out of her nose and across the ceiling. "Calm down, the both of you. Aven, you are to be a dragon rider. Your dragon resides within you, hidden beneath all the magick you have suppressed. Please, accept that side of you. As for you, Lissie, take this time to discover the real meaning behind the War of Scorching Hope. I trust you to have answers within one moon. For now, I must take my leave."

She tilted her head back and opened her mouth, the lining of her neck glowing orange and crimson, and then the scales changed to a white-hot color as flames billowed out of her mouth. Smoke began to fill the room, causing Nefari and the others to cough violently, covering their faces. Through the smoke, Nefari reached out, grabbing hold of Vayphessa's loose scales.

Nefari felt the heat pooling off Vayphessa as she stretched out her massive leathery wings. The smoke clouded the room until all that could be seen was the glow of Vayphessa’s scales, while bangs from the only door to the room echoed. Nefari gasped in surprise as Vayphessa coiled her head down to his height. His grip never waned, curious as to why she was lowering her head to him, her ridged horn the closest thing. Tentatively, Nefari reached out, touching the rough texture before grasping it. Vayphessa blinked her slitted eye, waiting for him to make another move. As Nefari let go of her scales, his grip tightening around her horn, Vayphessa lifted him up, where he could swing onto her neck.

Finding his place upon her neck scales was different; he had only ridden horses and griffins, never such a magnificently scaled beast that could easily tear him apart. Excitement filled him like an empty barrel in a river. With a choked laugh, Nefari took hold of her other horn to keep himself balanced.

The banging grew louder and louder, until a whoosh of air entered the room and the heavy door slammed to the floor. Through the smoke, Nefari spotted thirteen — no, seventeen — guards racing into the room, their swords drawn and splitter arrows knocked to the bows.

“Unhand Prince Nefari, you worm!” a guard called out.

Vayphessa snorted smoke at the jest. Nefari leaned forward, placing a hand on her cooling scales. “Don’t harm them. They’re only doing as they’re told. Let me speak to my father.”

Peering at him, Vayphessa huffed, and turned her head to let Nefari speak to the guards. One of the guards as Captain Hayward, a noble who experienced the death of the queen. Nefari swallowed.

“Stand back,” he hollered. “Vayphessa means no harm. She—”

The first arrow flew. Then another. And another. A dozen arrows pierced the air, aiming straight for Vayphessa’s neck and chest. Vayphessa roared as the arrows dove passed her. Hidden underneath her cries as a scream, just as powerful. Nefari grasped his leg, blood pulsing through his dark trousers. A splitter arrow had embedded itself deep into his leg, piercing through both sides and into one of Vayphessa’s scales.

Turning her head to look at Nefari, Vayphessa noticed the scarlet arrow. Her eyes returned to Captain Hayward, who stood there with a smirk. He raised a hand and in a sweeping motion toward Nefari and Vayphessa, he told his men to fire again. Vayphessa didn’t waste any time shifting her stance and moving her wing to block the arrows.

Nefari couldn’t believe his eyes. The guards that had watched over him since he was a baby now attacked him. They turned on him so quickly. Was this because Nefari knew of the dragon? Did Father really want the dragon kept a secret, even from his children?

Desperate for answers, Nefari looked to Lissie and Aven, who stood on the floor. Lissie held up her hands as they began to glow silvery. She mumbled some words Nefari couldn’t make out and the floor cracked and shifted under the weight of the guards. Sharp stones jutted from the floor. A guard fell backward as one of the stone tore through his foot.

Aven had a sword from Lissie, balancing awkwardly in his hands as he swung to block a guard’s sword. He dodged gracefully as another guard’s sword narrowly missed him.

Vayphessa lowered her head. “Get on, little ones. We need to retreat.”

Lissie glanced back, arching her hand into a claw as even more stones broke through the floor. The stones gave enough room for Aven to avoid being grabbed by a guard. Together, they raced to the dragon’s neck and climbed on. Lissie cursed in elvish as soon as she saw the arrow in Nefari’s leg.

“You okay?” she asked.

Nefari nodded, though the pain was blinding.

Vayphessa spread her wings, flapping harshly as she pushed herself off the ground and roared, a plume of smoke billowing out of her mouth as she raised her head and crashed it into the ceiling. A thunderous tremor shook the air as dust and bits of stone fell from the ceiling, covering Nefari, Lissie, and Aven. Vayphessa continued slamming her head into the ceiling, until it gave way. She raised a paw and tore at the stone with her talons.

The ceiling finally collapsed, mountains of dirt pouring in. Yet, Vayphessa continued. Nefari tightened his hold and waited for the inevitable impact of death to swallow him. Buried alive. How ironic that the prince would face such a horrible end in his own kingdom. He closed his eyes and waited.

And waited some more.

All he could feel was the dirt pouring over him, pressing down on him like a weight, but it didn’t feel like he was dying. The weight was vanishing as fast as it came. Nefari gasped with each new mouthful of dirt that landed in his mouth. He sputtered, shaking his head. In what felt like hours, ribbons of starlight broke through the surface.

Vayphessa ripped away the chunks of dirty and grass that blocked their path. With a final push, Vayphessa tore free of the earthen ground. Nefari sucked in a deep breath of fresh air as his hands loosened from Vayphessa’s horns, his body dropping to the ground. He stood at her side, looking at the palace that loomed over him.

A few seconds passed in his dazed state when he heard it. The guards were clamming around, shouting orders about killing the black dragon. He raised his head to spot Vayphessa crouched, her eyes narrowed. She moved a paw forward, claws digging into the stone, With a shattering crack, the stone broke apart. Nefari placed his hand on her foreleg. Vayphessa flinched. She glanced down, eyes blinking.

Nefari shook his head, to get her to stand down. He gripped his thigh as blood squelched between his fingers. “Stand down, guards! I’m with—”

As Nefari began to call out, an arrow whisked past his head. His body froze. The guards attacked him — the prince of all people! He stumbled back, his mind reeling at the betrayal of his people. The other guards drew their swords and knocked arrows to their bows. They were ready to kill.

Vayphessa arched her neck as she coiled her tail around Nefari and Lissie slid off the dragon. She placed a hand on Nefari’s shoulder.

“Let me see,” she said.

She crouched down, her hand gently touching near the arrow’s shaft. Nefari flinched. The pressure was unlike anything he had experienced. Lissie sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes glowing silver.

She whispered a word that Nefari could barely hear. Yet, the wind picked up as a tingling sensation trickled over Nefari’s wound. Lissie grasped the shaft of the arrow and yanked. With a sickening squelch, the arrow tore through his flesh, leaving a gaping wound. A scream ripped out of him as blood pooled from the wound, spreading across the dark leather of his pants. Large droplets of blood splattered the ground as Lissie threw the arrow to the side.

Vayphessa dipped her head, breathing out a puff of steam toward the guards.

“Are you okay, little one?” she asked, eyes darting between him and the guards when another barrage of arrows came flying toward them. She flicked her tail overhead and shielded them.

“Yes,” Nefari choked out between heavy breaths.

She blinked, unsure if she trusted his word. “Very well. Climb back on. We need to leave.”

“He needs medical attention!” Lissie snapped, pointing to the blood oozing onto the ground.

Cautiously, Aven lifted up the sword they wielded. Their eyes were glazed over, like they were in a trance, and they stumbled over to Nefari. Lissie reached out, grabbing hold of the sword’s blade and narrowing her eyes at Aven, who didn’t react. A strange set of words tumbled out of Aven’s mouth. The words were fluid, as if Aven spoke the language fluently.

A scalding hot wave of energy seemed to shoot off the blade at Nefari’s wound. Nefari instinctively touched his wound, feeling the blood pooling getting thinner and thinner until it stopped. He pulled his hand away to see it still coated in a thick layer of blood, yet he had felt the hole growing small, like it was healing in seconds.

The second Aven finished speaking, the sword slipped from Aven’s grasp, the hilt dropping to the cobblestone as Lissie remained holding onto the blade with furrowed eyebrows. Aven slumped sideways, crashing into Vayphessa’s hip.

Lissie’s mouth gaped open. Then closed. She turned to Nefari and looked at his wound once more.

“What?” she gasped.

“Hurry,” Vayphessa growled. Her tail wavered from the onslaught of arrows. One burst through, hitting a loose scales. Vayphessa’s teeth bared as the scale trembled and then fell, clattering against the ground.

Nefari blinked. His mind could not register what he had witnessed. But there was no time for that. He took hold of the loose scales again and climbed up. Once at her wing, Nefari planted himself over her spine and held a hand out for Lissie, who struggled to hoist Aven up. For a minute, the two tugged on Aven’s unconscious body until they managed to pull Aven beside them, and Lissie slumped over the spine, gasping for air.

Vayphessa spread her wings and flapped. The movement of muscles pulled her into the air as the guards attempted to shoot her down. Beating her wings, Vayphessa steered away from the castle, taking her companions out of Airedale City.

“Where to, little one?” she asked, her eyes unblinking.

Nefari glanced at Lissie, unsure of what to say. He had never left Airedale City. Never even once thought of his kingdom betraying him. Nefari was now homeless, lost in a world that he hardly knew anything about.

Lissie sat up, the strands of her hair whipping behind her. Exhaustion filled her eyes.

“Camp Black Crow. It’s south, near Farlet Woods.”