Legend of the Great Dragon (11 page)

 

 

Winter 2012- Day 364

Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined being married to a prince. That sort of thing wasn't ever in my plans, let alone those of my family. Of course, they could not afford to wed me to anyone. I had drawn the short straw. My sister was the one who was supposed to get married and live a wonderful, fulfilling, life of privilege as royalty.

I finally checked on my dear twin sister, Itotia. She's bounced back since I stole Etzli from her. I saw her very pregnant with a human man, who must have been her husband. They both had rings. He wore a suit, she wore a nice dress, and they drove an expensive looking car. I'm positive he's rich. She was smiling so he must make her happy, and he was smiling just as much so the feeling had to be mutual. There was a genuine light about him. I'm glad she got everything she wanted because she does deserve to be happy just as much as me — more so after what I did to her.

In the end, I think this works out better. Tia would never have been able to handle the secret of the dragons. It would have confused her, freaked her out, and I'm not sure she would have been able to keep her mouth shut. Nor would she have been able to handle living out in the wilderness with Etz. Of course, if she had married him, she'd be living in Aero Castle and have hundreds of servants at her disposal. It's a shame that Etz's father cannot accept our marriage. I can tell it bothers my darling husband to be outcast. He says of course it doesn't bother him, but we both know he's lying.

Losing modern conveniences is a lot harder on him than it is me. Now that the snow has fallen and we're essentially trapped in our home, I can see he's growing restless. Books don't entertain him like the television, he can't play games, quiet upsets him. I wanted to try getting a radio or music player of some kind to have before we got snowed in. One of our major problems is we don't have electricity in the house yet. I'd need an awful lot of batteries to make it through the season, I think. Not to mention, I don't think we'd get good reception out here. There's no way for me to download music onto a digital player because we don't have a credit card. Living in the past is complicated. If Etz hadn't taken so much of his inheritance with him the night we fled, I don't think we'd still be alive.

I'm watching my husband, my prince, and am trying to not laugh. He's reading a book on how to wire electricity in the house and what we would need to power it up. I think he believes he can use his magic to help with the process. Having power again would be nice, but there's something sweet about only having a fire and each other to keep us warm at night. I can't wait for our family to grow. Etz doesn't want to have any sons until we're settled, comfortable, and safe. He's only making excuses. I know he's afraid of being a father, afraid of repeating the same mistakes his father had done to him. Some how I'll show him everything will be fine.

****

Ichitaca read the words from his mother's journal and smiled. He liked the honest view on life. One thing he admired was her ability to admit that she had done wrong to her sister. So much of the situation he didn't understand. Neither of his parents had told him the entire story, and he longed to hear it. That probably would not be happening, however, until he was dead and could see them again. Ichi could wait. Whatever his parents had done, he knew it had only been for good reasons. In all of his memories of them, Ichi never recalled them ever being malicious or cruel people. All he remembered was love, so much love, for him and for each other. They had the kind of relationship he always wanted.

“Your dad was a prince?” Mikko asked quietly.

He put the journal down so he could look at her, nodding. “Apparently.”

“Does that make you a prince too then?”

“I guess so, but it's not a life I've ever known. It makes sense. My father was the son of the Great Dragon Lord of the Wind, or so I was told. It's part of why his exile was so painful for everyone. I'm not sure how the hierarchy works, but he might have been in the running for the heir. Either way, he was supposed to do a lot more great things than simply live in the forest.” Ichi averted his gaze to his hands. “Dad always said his
one
good deed for the world was donating his magic to the other Touched so they could save the world.”

She frowned. “Donated his magic?”

“Yeah, when dragons are blood bound to one another, you gain their magical attributes. He said it was a complicated and frustrating process. I doubt he actually wanted to do it, but did because he knew it was the right thing,” he explained. “He always liked to keep to himself. Probably because he didn't like when anyone told him what to do. The only person I'd ever seen him listen to without mumbling a sarcastic comment was my mother.” He laughed. “And that was only about half the time she asked him for anything.”

“Marched to his own drum,” she said.

“Something like that.”

“My mom was the same way.” She frowned some more and he hated seeing such a sour expression on her face. Mikko was so beautiful and kind. She should have been happy so she could share the natural light inside of her.

Carefully, he placed the journal back on the table and walked over to the couch so he could be closer to her. Being near enough to touch always made him happier, and he hoped she might feel the same way. He placed a tentative hand over hers. “Can I get you anything? Can I
do
anything?”

The smile he loved so much slowly spread across her lips. “A small snack would be nice. Is Teo okay? I haven't seen him since… before we left actually.”

“I'll get you something to eat and go find him. He's been sitting outside for a lot of this time. I think the attack shook him up. He's also been doing a lot of reading in the Holy Book, perhaps because it gives him comfort?” Ichi shrugged. A lot of people turned to religion when they felt distress, but it wasn't something he personally understood. “Is there anything you're in the mood for? I don't have a ton, but I think I can meet a basic craving.”

“Small but filling,” she said. “I don't think I could handle a lot of food, but I don't want to feel hungry again in five minutes either.”

He scratched his chin for a moment. “I have an idea.”

“Thank you, for all of this and for being there.”

“You came to me.” He winked. “And there's no way I could deny a beautiful damsel in distress.”
Did I just say that? I'm sure that's coming on too strong. It's how father always flirted, but is that kind of thing appropriate with someone you're just starting to pursue?
Relationships were too complicated.

She laughed, so that was a good sign he hadn't turned her away completely. “I'm not helpless.”

“I didn't call you helpless, but you were in a lot of distress, there's no point in trying to argue with me about it.”

“Are you going to get me that snack or not? Because it seems you're denying me in my distress right now!” she teased.

He stood. “I'm going, and I promise to not make you wait any longer my lady.”

“Thank you, dear prince.”

Ichi made his way into the kitchen, an extra bounce in his steps. He found some crackers from his traveling pack that were still good to eat and a small piece of jerky. Without saying a word, he set it on the table for her to eat along with a glass of water before leaving again to go and find Teo. The guy had been in a lot of emotional anguish since Ichi brought them into his home. He hadn't been lying to her about Teo being shaken up, but he also didn't tell her just how bad it was. In truth, Ichi was a lot more worried about Teo than her.

The cool air hit him the instant he stepped outside. Winter would be there in a few months. Not having to spend the season snowed into the house would be a nice change for him. He surveyed the clearing around his house and spotted Teo near the family well, leaning onto it as he stared inside.

“She's a lot more coherent now and wants to see you,” Ichi said gently, not wanting to startle the young man.

Teo raised his head and glanced over his shoulder. “Thanks for letting me know.”

“Are you sure you're okay?” Ichi asked. “I know you said you were fine, but you're not acting all too fine. It's only going to worry her worse if you hide whatever it is you're feeling. She's a woman. They pick up on that kind of thing.”

Sighing, Teo stepped away from the well. “It was a close call, but I'm more concerned about her and everything else happening in the world. After what happened in Inero, I can't help but wonder what's next.”

Frowning, Ichi walked over to the well and rested against it. “What happened in Inero?”

“You don't know?”

“I live in the middle of nowhere. Of course I don't know.”

Teo laughed sourly. “Kind of hard to forget, but it's also hard to think of anyone being so closed off from the world. Most people in the middle nowhere at least have television or a computer or something. Even a newspaper would work. Though, does anyone publish a paper newspaper anymore?”

“In the town near here, they do. It covers mostly local things, but occasionally there are major world events,” Ichi said. “Tell me what happened in Inero.”

“A total climate change. Over night the river flooded and the entire city is covered in ice.”

“It's not even winter,” Ichi said softly. “And Inero is desert. That can't be possible. How could there be a complete climate shift there, but not anywhere else?”

Teo's
gaze became dark and intense; his
brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and his jaw line tightened. It was hard to look at him. “Dark magic, and it's only going to spread. That's why we left Oceina City. Mikko is following her gut and her destiny. For whatever reason, she was supposed to follow the wind and it brought us here. Something else could be happening, something we can stop, and we're stuck here because she's been injured!”

Raking his lower lip between his teeth, Ichi processed all of that information. Dark magic? Destiny? Someone had an active imagination. “And how are you two supposed to end whatever crazy things the earth decides to do to itself?”

“She's the Great Dragon. It's what she was made for.”

Ichi blinked. “Yeah, she told me about being the Great Dragon and the savior of the world and all that, but she's still also just a person. You're both only people. How can you change the cosmos?”

“It's called divinity, and the ability to make miracles happen. She's Touched and in a whole new sort of way. I'm confident that she will be able to do amazing things. Right now, we have to find the source.” Teo folded his arms in front of him as if he were challenging Ichi.

Someone needs to chill out.
“I'm glad you have so much faith in her, but try not to put too much pressure on her either. There's a lot about this I don't understand, but remember she has feelings too. Being supportive of her is more than following her on her quest. Don't stress her out.” He would do anything he could to protect her. Divine creature or not, she deserved to have happiness and not have to be so afraid. How could anyone save the world if they didn't feel confident in themselves?
What a sad life,
Ichi thought.

Closing his eyes for a moment, Teo nodded. “I don't know how to support her. That's the problem. It's why I've been out here reading the Holy Book so much. I'm looking for an answer of some kind. There are two chapters my father has bookmarked. I'll read the beginning of them and then stop because what I'm finding is scaring me a lot. She's going to hurt. I don't want to see her hurt!”

“I don't either.” Ichi put a hand on Teo's shoulder. “Go inside and see her. Don't talk about destiny or anything else unless she brings it up. Let's give her a little more time and then we can all go through those chapters in the Holy Book together because I'm curious. I… I'm not sure what I believe. My relationship with God and all things faith has always been on the rocky side. The thing is, I care about her, a lot.” He faced away from Teo, letting go of the young man.
Probably more than I should.
“The least I can do is understand what you think is going on. If she was told to follow the wind and was brought to me, then maybe I'm supposed to help somehow.”

“Which is a destiny way of thinking for someone who doesn't seem to believe in that sort of thing,” Teo said. “I'll go see her. Hopefully she'll feel better soon.”

Hopefully,
Ichi thought while nodding.
I want to believe more than anything.

 

Mikko nibbled on the crackers and jerky that Ichi had brought for her. The more she ate, the more settled her stomach felt, so that was a good sign. Having an appetite was always the first sign of recovery. As she ate, she kept hearing giggling.
Strange, I'm pretty sure I'm alone in here.
Even more bizarre was that the giggling was coming from a female voice. Did Ichi have a woman and was keeping mum about it?

“Hello?” she asked as she sat up. The pounding in her head lessened, but the whole act of becoming upright still hurt the rest of her. It took longer than it should have, but she was able to get herself propped up against the couch pillows. She reached for another cracker and then immediately dropped it. Standing in front of her was a young Aero couple. Not only had the two materialized out of nowhere, but they also were translucent.

The young man was busy kissing the neck of the woman who seemed rather embarrassed by all of the affection.

“We shouldn't,” the woman murmured.

“We should,” he countered.

“Not right now!”

“Why not?”

“She can
see
us,” the woman said.

The young man looked at her straight on. “Yeah, so? We're just making out. It's not like there isn't worse on TV. Besides, I think something is wrong when a husband can't love on his wife, don't you?”

“You're frustrating me, Etz.”

All Mikko could do was blink.
Maybe I'm not any better after all.
When Teo entered the room, she let out a breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding. She smiled up at him, glad to see he was in fact okay.

“You weren't hurt were you?” she asked. “The fall was nasty. I was so afraid you had been knocked off or hit.”

Teo sat down on the floor next to the couch. “I'm fine thanks to you, but you didn't have to protect me. I would have been fine.”

She rolled her eyes. “Something tells me you probably wouldn't have been, actually. Seeing as how there were trees flying everywhere and who knows what else. You don't need to always be the hero.”

“Neither do you.”

“I just did what I thought was right. It would kill me if something ever happened to you, okay? Especially if I could have done something to stop it. We might not be related by blood, but you are still my baby brother and I need to keep you safe.” She folded her arms in front of her. “Don't argue with me about it.”

Jaw tightened some, Teo nodded. “Fine, I won't argue about it. There's no point since it's over and done with, but just remember to let people take care of you sometimes too, instead of it always being the other way around.”

“I'm letting you take care of me now.”

He scoffed. “You're more annoying than usual.”

“I'm never annoying!”

“Exactly!”

Ichi's laughter echoed in the room, and when she glanced at the entrance to the den, she saw him leaning against a wall. His smile relaxed her.
He must think we're pretty stupid, fighting like this.
Teo also looked
toward
Ichi, turning his body so that he could see them both.

“Told you she was fine,” Ichi said. He sauntered into the room and sat in the chair across from them.

Scowling, Teo returned his attention to Mikko. “I see that, but we're not going anywhere until you're one-hundred percent better. Plus, I'm sure the hunters are still lingering around here somewhere, reorganizing their group.”

“He's so serious,” the ghostly young man said. The woman had called him Etz, so Mikko assumed that was his name.

The young woman put a finger to her lips. “Don't be rude. You're a distraction.”

“The best kind,” he winked and went back to kissing her. “I guess I shouldn't be surprised. He
is
a Terran. They're always all work, no play.”

Giggling, his wife tried to pull away. “Stop!”

“Mikko?” Teo asked. “Are you listening?”

Snapping her gaze back to Teo, Mikko shook her head. “I'm sorry, no.” She glanced at Ichi. “I want to read the prophecy today.”

Teo frowned. “Are you sure you're feeling well enough for that?”

“Yes, I'm feeling fine. It's nothing some sleep won't be able to fix.”

“Maybe you should do more of that first then.”

“Teo, I'm fine!” she protested.

Ichi held up his hands. “Okay, let's all calm down here. Getting worked up and fighting over petty things all afternoon isn't helping anymore. How's this for a plan. Mikko, you keep resting for a few more hours. Another nap might be a good idea just to give your body time to fight off the last of the poison. I'll go out and hu
nt for something to eat tonight.
T
hen we can have some fresh meat. Teo, there's a garden outside. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find something in it still. I don't remember what all my mother planted, but there might be pumpkins, tomatoes, berries, or even corn. I'm not sure, but it's worth checking out. Gather what you can, clean it, and see if you can find something to make out of what's in the kitchen. We'll talk over dinner.”

“That's my boy!” Etz cheered. “Good job taking care of his woman.”

His woman?
Mikko's cheeks began to flush with heat. “That's a good plan.”

“Mikko, you're pink,” Teo said and put a hand to her forehead. “I don't think you have a fever but…”

“I'm okay,” she said softly. “I promise. It's just the extra heat from the blankets.”

“You've embarrassed her,” the young woman said. Mikko could only assume that she was Ichi's mother.

Shivering, Mikko pulled the blankets up around her tighter.
More ghosts.
She had seen the ghost of her great-grandfather in the park. There was a resemblance to her father, which had been her first tip off. They had the same kind of build, the same blue eyes, and similar facial features. She recognized him from old pictures she'd seen at her grandparents' house as well. The ghost hadn't said anything to her, and she preferred that to the vocal expressions of Ichi's parents.

She closed her eyes, hoping it would encourage the ghosts to leave her alone.
Why do they keep appearing to me like this? What's the point?

“I'm going to try taking another nap. My head is starting to hurt again,” Mikko mumbled.