Follow me!!
WARNING: This is the first chapter to Book 2 of the Young Knight Series! It contains major spoilers for the first book! Click here if you want to start from the beginning of the series!
Flames danced before the amassed crowd of people. They wiggled and lept from tree to tree, lighting the way for more tendrils of flames to lick the next piece of flora and consume it mercilessly. Like a snowfall, the smoke from the ruined trees rose high and lazily floated down to the village ahead. The crowd watched in amazement, entranced by the dazzling display of destruction.
All were in awe except for one.
Aten the Knight stood a few paces beyond the crowd. Just a few moments ago he had felt a rush of success flowing through him. Though young, Aten had recently earned the title of Dragonslayer after defeating the Great Slayer of Armies: Vesta the Dragon. From the endeavor, he suffered major wounds to his shoulder and calf. And although he had succeeded in slaying Vesta, Aten had a knot in his stomach, feeling much worse now than he did in the morning when Vesta was alive. It was all due to a shrilling yell he heard far off in the forest shortly after Vesta's death. Vesta's father—also a dragon—had discovered her body, and was determined to know her killer's name.
“My good people of Pallas,” Aten called to the onlookers gripped by wonder, “why do you watch the forest so passively? We must flee this place at once!”
“Flee? I have never seen a dragon’s death throes before. It is fascinating,” Elder Anderson, the village leader, said, his eyes glittering with fascination and tears. For some strange reason, Aten believed he sounded defensive.
“Death throes!?” Aten said, limping forward on his good leg.
“Yes, the struggle that the body bears before the soul leaves it. Humans are so morbid to watch, but the dragon seems to have brought about an explosion of flames! There is no need to leave,” Anderson said. The forest branches snapped thunderously.
“Elder Anderson, the dragon who resided in the cave is dead. There are no throes to be had. This is not her doing, this is a greater evil,” Aten said quietly once he stood in front of him. “Tell the people to flee. They will listen to you.”
Anderson still watched the fiery scene beyond Aten, his face glowing a harsh orange tinge.
“You say that you killed the dragon, but you do not know what one looks like dead. Perhaps their bodies perish in flames. Besides, what evil could create this other than the dying dragon?” Anderson asked. Aten felt uncomfortable speaking so casually about the death of Vesta.
“Another dragon!” Aten urged, still quiet enough as not to cause widespread panic to the people of Pallas.
“Another dragon? This dragon came from nowhere and demands we leave?” Anderson said with a snort. “Of all the creatures, why would you suppose another dragon exists?”
“Did you not hear the distressed cry asking who killed his daughter?” Aten asked incredulously.
“You assume that was a dragon? For it is impossible that any man could be in the forest of a dragon discovering that his daughter had been killed by it while out of his sight?” Anderson asked agitatedly. “Aten, this is a victory. You are a Dragonslayer now! A title that has gone unearned, even during my lifetime! Can you not let your anxieties abate for one moment and realize what peace you have brought on this land?”
“This is not peace!” Aten said, stabbing a finger toward the burning trees. “This is a declaration of war from a dragon!” Aten yelled. A few worried glances turned his way. He did nothing to assuage them.
“Aten, watch your tongue, there are worried people among us,” Anderson scolded.
“People who will die if we do nothing!” Aten said, his voice rising further. More heads turned his way. Aten caught eyes with a few knights from his guild.
“Brothers!” he called, waving them toward him with his good arm. They made their way, Boros at the lead.
“Aten,” Anderson warned.
“We must flee the village!” Aten urged the knights.
“What? Why, did you not defeat the dragon?” Boros asked, surprised.
“Aten believes there to be a dragon headed in our direction at this very moment,” Anderson said, waving an arm flippantly.
“That is right!” Aten said hurriedly, happy to see Anderson coming to reason.
“And I seem to remember the guild told me he swore a solemn oath that he would not return unless a dragon no longer burdened our town,” Anderson said. Aten's jaw dropped as he stared at Anderson, shadows floundering on his fuming face.
“Is this true?” Boros said, taking hold of his sword. He was honor-bound to kill Aten if he returned without having fulfilled his oath.
“I—y—no, I…” Aten looked between Boros and Anderson, his head swimming with confusion.
“Aten, there is no need to panic. It is fine,” Anderson said with a soothing voice. “Either it is the case that what we are witnessing are the death throes of a dragon that you have slain, or you seem to believe that against all odds another dragon has come to displace us from this beautiful village of Pallas over which we have resided for generations.”
Aten could not believe what he was hearing. He had never seen Anderson speak with such malice before. He tried to understand where it was coming from. As a tree crashed to the forest floor behind him, he began to wonder why the village elder would act so irrationally. Was he set in his ways? Or was this anger of a jealous nature? Was he afraid to leave the village? He had so little to fear when he was treated as the village leader.
“Well, Aten, do you believe there is a dragon coming or not?” the elder asked, eyebrows raised impatiently.
Aten's eyes darted around his guild members for looks of comradery, but all he saw was confusion and fear. He shook his head.
“I suggest we flee, regardless of the circumstances. The flames could reach—”
“The flames are a great distance from the village, we are at a perfect place to enjoy the display,” Anderson said, happily.
“I…” Aten’s eyes stung with tears of frustration. “Anderson, why is it that you are afraid to leave Pallas when it is in danger?”
“I am not afraid to leave Pallas!” Anderson said, arms opening wide, “I am afraid of listening to a boy tell the village to leave its home to some other forsaken land and living by their rules because of a feeling he has about a dragon that he just killed!”
Boros and the other knights looked to Anderson with surprise, joining Aten in experiencing the first time Anderson was acting out of character. Aten wiped the spittle off of his face, taking note of the words Anderson said.
“You fear to lose your power over the lives of the people of Pallas,” Aten spoke as he came to the realization.
“What!?” Anderson said, his face growing darker.
“You want to remain because at least you have control here as the elder. Elsewhere they may have different rules that would render you powerless. Pallas is the only place you can maintain superiority,” Aten said, the flames cracking behind him seemingly in agreement. Boros looked nervously between the two of them. Anderson's face flickered in the flamelight, his eyes seething.
“Very well. We will play your way,” Anderson spat, his teeth gritted tightly. He turned to Boros and the knights, “Kill him for failure to meet his oath.”