Secrets of a War God

4.

The sun was already so high by the time Calissa had made her way into the heart of the unclaimed land, she loved the warmth it gave her. Adjusting the strap of her harness, she plowed on into the forests. Although Calissa packed, she did so with the consideration of the heat. She tried to make her pack light so it was easier to carry, and the clothes she wore were simple, her trousers were made of a material almost like linen, as was her top. Strapped to her back with a harness were her favourite blades, they were both black in colour and looked as those they absorbed the light of the sun. 

Both blades were gifts from her mother, forged in her home town which was close to the border of the unclaimed land. She brought them with her when she was chosen by the King to become his, as a protective measure against the people there. But as her status began to grow as one of the Kings favourites she decided to save the blades, as a gift to her child. 

With that thought, Calissa continued her path. Wanting this trial to be over sooner rather than later, her plan would need to be done in the next day. She wove her way around the trees, listening to the birds chirping, none of them familiar to her. Calissa felt lonely without Lyla, that was one of the rules to the trial. The child must prove themselves worthy by their own hand, not the hand of who they are bound to. And with that, Lyla had been locked into Teresitas wing.

Throughout her journey, one thing Calissa had noticed was a presence behind her. Not of one person, but of a group of about 5 people. She hadn't made a move as in the daylight, she would be an easier target for them. hen the sun set she could hide in the shadows, and use the night to her advantage. 

Cylis had done well on his plan. Five of his most trusted warriors had been sent to slay his sister, in the hopes that when she did not return he would become the favourite in his fathers eyes. Or at least, something close to the favourite. 

The men he had asked were all part of the army, but none liked being led by a woman. They felt as though it made them weaker, and if word got out their kingdom would be prone to more attacks. So in order to fix this small dilemma, they had agreed to the princes request. Happily following Calissa into the unclaimed land, not paying attention to how much noise they were making as the eagerness to fight was high. 

As the sun began to fade into the horizon, Calissa decided to make camp for the night. Watching as the sky turned a beautiful red colour, illuminating the trees and making their shadows longer. A sixth presence could be felt by the princess, but it wasn't something she deemed important yet. The five warriors were still surrounding her, watching as she set up a fire and started to take some food out of her pack. 

The warriors had started to close in as the sky darkened, making the perimeter smaller so as less chance for the young woman to escape. The captain of the group was watching her as she ate, not fully realising the she knew exactly how many were there, and where they hid from her. Rounding the side of the tree, he looked for her again. But this time, she had disappeared seemingly into thin air. Racing forwards into the space which was once occupied by her, the warriors followed his lead and was met with a single fire. 

"Did you really think you would be able to sneak up on me?" Calissa's voice echoed through the trees, making it hard for the warriors to pinpoint exactly where it originated from. "I know you all. One is a captain in my army, you other four are mere foot soldiers to him. Below his station. Expendable. At least in his eyes."

Her taunting was starting to rile up the soldiers, they wanted the adrenaline of a fight and blades crashing. Not to be taunted by a woman younger than them. "At least in Cylis' eyes you were deemed skilful and of a great honour. In my eyes you are now traitors, and cowards." At her last word Calissa revealed herself standing next to the smallest of the warriors, and before he could react she stole his blade and drove it into his shoulder. 

The scream that left the mans mouth was of utter agony. The remaining four wheeled around and faced the princess, she smirked as she grabbed for the blades strapped to her back. The warriors could not see her blades as the darkness engulfed them, not that it mattered from them anyways. It was too late. 

Calissa was like a shadow, battling hard and one by one they started to fall. The captain was standing the furthest from the group, not wanting to attack yet. He seemed to fair better than the rest in a fight, but truly he was no match for the War God. 

He stood with pride as he assessed the way she fought, analysing her strokes and weak spots. As he readied himself to enter a low growl came from behind him. Turning slowly he looked into the trees, trying to understand what made such a sound from the shadows. Purple eyes greeted him, glowing from the darkness. They started to move closer to the trembling captain, not being aware that the fight behind them continued. 

The beast continued to move forward, growling at the man. Stepping into the light of the fire, its black scales were shown, along with the body. The fear of the captain grew as the beast did, finally understanding what had come out of the shadows. 

"D-d-dragon." With his realisation the dragon roared and chomped down on the shaking man, enjoying its first meal in days. Moving its head, the dragon surveyed the fight. Calissa was still on the attack but with only one man left. The other three warriors were on the floor, missing limbs. The dragon made quick work of removing those bodies from the surrounding area, but continued to watch as the young woman fought for her life. 

The warrior was filling with rage, and with this came sloppy attacks that had no real strategy. Calissa took this all in stride as she quickly recognised a pattern and opening for a killing blow, but all of her plans came crashing down as the dragon moved forwards. With a simple movement the dragon crushed the man with its paw, blood squirting from the body and onto Calissa. 

The dragon sat and started to lick the blood from its paw as Calissa watched on, amazed at what just occurred. Not realising that she could indeed be the next meal, she dropped her blades and approached the creature. Calissa was never one for violence against animals, half the time they had been mistreated and were not acting within in their own minds. She sat in front of the great creature and remained calm, not wanting to startle something of this size. 

The great beast had registered that the young woman had decided to sit down, not run from it. They looked into each others eyes, neither one wishing to make a move, scared of startling the other. Before long the dragon had decided to lay down, placing its head on the floor just next to Calissa. Within reaching distance. 

Calissa did not know what came over her, but she felt the need to touch the beast. The scales of the dragon seemed warm and inviting to her, not the picture of death that had been there when it killed the warriors. With a steady hand, she reached for the dragon heads. The purple eyes followed her every movement before she touched the scales. 

A spark was felt from the contact which left the dragon dazed, immediately retreating from the young woman. 

What was that! 

Calissas face showed confusion and surprise at hearing a voice in her head, not sure on what to reply with. Remaining sitting down, she looked up into the dragons eyes. "Did you feel that to?" 

Does she seriously think I can talk back to her? 

"Why can I hear you?" Calissas question startled the dragon, she had never had a human speak to her before. Leaning down to be level with the intriguing human, she moved her head to Calissa again, wanting the young woman to touch her. 

Without hesitation she reached forward and started to stroke the maw of the dragon, feeling the sparks from the contact each time. "Please tell me what is going on. I came here to find a dragon and here you are."

The dragon retreated from Calissa at her statement, understanding why she had been looking for one. If you have come here seeking a dragon to kill then I must leave. This communication intrigues me as it does you, but I will not risk my life to stay with you only to be slaughtered. With that confirmed the dragon started to turn away, not wanting her life to end here.

"That's not what I meant! Yes my people have a tradition, but it is one of hate and jealousy. I did not come to kill anything." Calissa moved to block the path of the dragon, not wanting this amazing beast to move away until it explained what was going on. "Please, I do not believe in killing for the sake of it. My brothers came years earlier and returned with pieces of dragons. Each time it would make me sick to the stomach."

The dragon turned at her words, realising that she may in fact be different from the rest she has met. Continue.

With that single word Calissa returned to her fire, waiting for the creature to follow her and to make themselves comfy. Her story wasn't exactly a short one.

"In my kingdom it is tradition, when a child of the King, usually a son, turned twenty they were to go into these lands and bring back a prize. The prize was to be a part of a dragon or the egg. I watched as my brother left for their trials, praying each time that they would come back empty handed or not come back at all. I vowed to myself on each of their arrivals home that I would not be like them, I would not kill a creature that has done nothing to warrant its own death." The dragon shifted at Calissas statement, realising how many of her kind had died because of her family. "Before I left the palace I came to a conclusion, when I return it was either going to be empty handed or with a living creature. I didn't wish to kill one, so I would've gained its trust brought it back to show what I could do, and release it home. Not wanting to keep one captive against its will. That would not be fair. So please tell me now, why did you help me? I did not need it, nor did you have to show yourself. You could've let me die if it came to it."

The dragon was just as confused as the young princess, but answered her all the same. 

I do not know the reason as to why I helped. Watching the fight it seemed unfair, five men against you. Not fully realising that you could deal with it yourself at least. 

A chuckle escaped Calissa as well as the dragon, but it came out as more of a light growl. 

When you placed your hands on my scales you felt the spark. There is a story that is passed on through the dragons, only from our memories. That when a human lays a hand against the scales of a dragon, in respect not of hate, a bond shall form. One of friendship and love, as those two souls shall be bonded. It seems you already share your soul with another form, but you did not place your hand on me with anger. 

Its head slowly moved towards the princess, its purple eyes glowing slightly. Calissa stood in order to be at roughly the same height as the dragon.

I am Naya young princess, and from this moment forward we are bonded. I will follow where you go and stay by your side, until either of our dying breaths. 

Calissa was lost for words, never did she expect to be bonded to a dragon this easily, if at all. She raised her hand to the scaled black beast and was met with its head, they were one now as her and Lyla were.