Paths among Dreams

Since anyone could remember Illora stood tall and proud against the sea. The palace a fortified sentinel between the sea and the vast forests and valleys. The lush vegetation was a beacon to the animals that fed on it and a breeding ground for the larger predators that fed on them. Illora was completely self-sustaining. The people born to this land were known as the Dragon Blood. Histories told of these people being direct descendents of the mythical creatures themselves and bosted powers of flight and fire breath. Legends spoke of the earliest descendants being capable of transformation from that of a human to that of a dragon twenty times the size of a large man. They could fly and carry great weight. Each dragon having specific gifts like seeing the future, breathing fire, ice, wind and water. The ability to turn their beautiful scales to stone as a means to protect and shelter their young. As time went on the Dragon blood born became fewer and their history became legend to most of Illoras people. The Dragon blood family became the only people to carry any of the ancestral gifts and so it was left to them to care for the land and those who lived on it. King Mikel was the third King of Illora as it was passed from father to the son who carried the most Dragon born gifts. He was the seventh son of King Obrein and inherited the kingdom upon his father's death. When King Mikel began his reign, he spent many years alone. It was law that Dragon Blood could only marry other Dragon Blood. This being the case fewer and fewer children were born of these couplings, breeding fewer and fewer options for the family to find suitable mates. All his brothers had married blood born and moved out of the palace to care for various communities and work the various jobs specific to their gifts and abilities. All together there were 13 senior members of the Dragon Blood family and 27 offspring between them. Yet the king himself sat alone in his palace, no joy or love, no echos of laughter from children. Silent was the lonely king. King Mikel received invitations from his brothers and sisters to join them in their celebrations or festivities but it became difficult for the king to enjoy their happiness without envy or resentment. He longed for a mate of his own, a partner to enjoy the nights with, a lover to bare his children, a moment to watch his young flourish, and learn their history. A family to carry on his legacy. After several years, King Mikel became a recluse. Locked up inside his palace only making public appearances for the summer and winter celebration, King Mikel appointed two of his brothers to leaded the spring and fall harvest and hunt. Gone were they days that he worked and celebrated among his people. As time went on, even his family ceased to visit and the invitations to join them became fewer and farther between. The King almost ceased to exist. Kira the oldest of the Dragon Blood 13 was nearing her end and became more troubled over the increasing absence of their king. Though she was over 1000 years old she barely looked over seventy. Tall and lithe, with long salt and pepper hair, safire eyes, and a full figure, she wore her years well, though it was becoming difficult for her travel any distance on her own. Her house, House of the Safire Dragon employed enough of the local community that she need only ask and her many companions would do her bidding. It was just a few day before the fall harvest and royal hunt when the weather began to turn cold and the leaves began to fall. Kira sat in her garden sharing tea with her newest companion. Rina was on the shorter side with hair as white as snow and eyes so blue they seemed to glow. She was quickly becoming a favorite of Kiras. Together they would spend hours in the garden cultivating medicinal herb, creating powders, tinctures, salves and balms to relieve almost any ailment. They shared memories and story's as they worked and on this day Kira confined in Rina her concerns for their king. Rina was a commoner in Illora, she held no gifts of the Dragon Blood though she was a wonderful healer. For this reason she offered her company to Kira to accompany her on the journey to see her brother. Kira and Rina made plans to leave the following morning. That evening they packed smoke dried meats and fruits and vegetables to sustain them on their journey. The House of the Safire Dragon was several miles from the palace and was one of the larger estates among the thirteen houses. The journey would take them little more than two days to complete and Kira was certain if she didn’t make the journey now, something terrible would befall their peaceful kingdom and their king might truly be lost to them forever with no heir to carry on in his place. That night Kira was restless, dreams of chaos and c*****e invaded her dreams. Haunting images of entire communities falling and crops withering, the forests burning and her loved ones dying were imprinted in her mind. She woke before the sun that morning with a sense of urgency she had never felt before. Rina arrived as the sun was rising and immediately realized something was different about Kira today. As she reached the gate to the estate, she called out to Kira. “Lady Safire! Are you alright?” “We are losing time, child, tis’ not the season for questions.” Kira responded, going back to packing her horse. Finding this behavior odd, Rina made her way over to Kira and helped her pack the remainder of their necessities. They worked together in silence and made good time while leaving on their journey. Shortly after making their way to the main path, Rina again tried to speak with Kira. “Lady Safire, has something happened? You seem bothered today. Is there anything I can help with?” “Rina I’m afraid… I don’t have the words to explain it, but I feel so afraid.’ “What could possibly frighten you? You are the wisest person I know, surely there isn’t anything for you to fear.” Rina said with sheer confidence in her Safire Lady.Even as she said the words, she could tell by looking at Kira that her usual strength and confidence was shaken and something was off. “Ordinarily I would agree with you child, but lately I have a sense that there is some impending danger and despite my best efforts, I can’t shake these feelings. It has become so bad I have started dreaming horrible things.” Kira confided as they continued on the path. “Maybe its just too many sweet cakes before bed?” Rina asked jokingly, trying to lighten Kira’s spirits and though she smiled, Kira remained worried. “I will feel better once I reach the palace. I’m sure my brother will put my mind at ease.” Kira tried to convince her self and her companion that reaching her destination would put everything right, but she wasn’t so sure. “ I stopped and delivered yesterday’s procurements. The school and training grounds were especially grateful. It seems the children are getting into more mischief and are slower to heal, though no one really knows why.” Rine wanted to change the subject to something more suited to the Safire Lady’s nature. Hopefully it would help take her mind off her fears. “Year after year, the Dragon blood flows less and less in the veins of our people. Soon there will be none left. With its loss, each generation becomes further removed from the power we once held. The gifts given by the dragons so many years ago”. Kira was not old enough to remember the first descendants of the Dragon Blood, however she was not so far removed that she had not witnessed the truly powerful gifts first hand. “Most people believe that the stories of old are more myth than history”. Rina replied and to that Kira laughed. A fully belied laugh. “Oh child, I’m far older than I seem and I have lived long enough to have seen the truth of the stories. My own father could breath ice and carry the weight of twenty men in his arms.”With a smile and a twinkle in her eye, Kira allowed her mind to wander back to her childhood.