Heart of Fire

-There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.

Griffin had two miles left to go, the heat on his back and neck slowing him to a crawl. A mile down the path was a small creek, big enough to drink from but too small to cool the fire roasting the back of his body. He had to stay low and move only when he was certain it was safe to do so. Any misstep would mean his life, and the life of his newborn baby girl. He needed to get the medicine to her soon, or she would surely die from the fever. He checked the sky and the surrounding mountains and took off at a sprint. As the sparse copse of trees loomed up ahead, he noticed a shudder in the small bushes surrounding the trunks. His heart leapt in his chest, but he had to keep going. Stopping out in the open was not an option. He needed cover. As he ducked below the smallest branches and into the safety of the brush, he felt eyes upon him, and he swung around with his sword ready for battle. Looking back at him was a tiny set of eyes and dirty blond hair coated with soot and black ash. For what seemed like an eternity, they both stared at one another not moving an inch, wary but thankful to not be facing down the jaws of death.

He lowered his sword and felt the child relax as the tension left her body. She was small and slight, fair skinned with stringy blond hair matted and caked with weeks of grime and soot. Griffin inched closer and she jumped back, lowering her head in a defensive stance. She has been on her own long enough to know how to evade an attack. She was smart, and quick.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaky and nervous.

“I am Griffin. I live a few miles from here. Where is your family? Are you alone?”

She eyed him warily, deciding whether to trust him or give him no leverage.

“My family is dead. Killed by the big one a few months ago. I have been here for weeks searching for food.”

“His name is Lagos. He is the oldest of the original twelve. Many of my friends and family have been victims of his fire. Of all the dragons I have seen, I fear him the most. He only comes late in the day when the sun is at its lowest point.”

She studied Griffin for a moment and then turned her gaze to the sky. She had a way about her, something in her eyes that gleamed of wisdom beyond her years. She scanned the clouds once more and then looked down at the satchel.

“Do you have food in there?”

“No. Just medicine. I am taking it to my daughter. She is very sick.”

She just stared at him, as though she could see through him. Griffin stood up and inched closer to the edge of the trees. He searched the open sky hoping it was still clear. He spotted a few birds darting after a hawk, but nothing to worry about, for now. He could feel the child’s eyes taking him in, as if she were sizing him up. He turned to see her look away, and he inched close to her.

“What’s your name little one?”

“Marin. I am named after my grandma. What is your daughter’s name?”

“Her name is Kora, and I must be going. She needs me.”

He turned away from her, wondering if he would ever see her again. He cannot afford to take her with him. It would slow him down, leaving him vulnerable out in the open spaces. He took a step out into the open and immediately felt a sharp sting in his right side. He looked down to see a barb stuck in his side, blood oozing from the wound. He fell back, eyes going dark until he hit the earth. He blinked away the pain and caught sight of Marin, holding his head and staring down at him in fear. Her whole body was shaking.

He was too distracted and did not use proper caution before stepping out into the open. The juvenile shrieked loudly, calling the others to his location. Soon there would be too many to escape, and Griffin knew he had a slim window to make it to the ravine. He stood on shaky legs, and grabbed the girl, hoisting her onto his back. She clung to him for dear life, her tiny fingers grasping onto anything that felt solid. He checked the sky, noting the position of the young dragon. It was circling above, eyes on the horizon searching for the elders.

As he made the long loop away from the trees, Griffin sprinted into the expanse his legs pushing harder than ever before, and he felt like he was going to make it before the dragon spotted them. The earsplitting shriek clapped across the sky like thunder. The young dragon swiftly gave chase, gaining ground faster than Griffin thought possible. He could sense how close it was, fire growing in its belly, ready to strike with a searing flame hot enough to boil the blood and flay skin from bone.

He could see the small trail ahead, but he knew it was too late. He darted to the left at the last second circling back around toward the trees again. The fire missed him by mere inches, but the heat singed the hairs from his arms and legs. Marin cried out jumping to the ground and rolling in the dirt to extinguish the fire on her clothes. Griffin stopped and turned, noting the position of the dragon and Marin in the same glance. She was half way between him and the trail, and the juvenile dragon was circling around for another pass.

He pushed with his stronger leg and raced toward her, grabbing her by the arm and slinging her onto his back again. He was facing down the dragon, fierce eyes glowing with red hot embers were burning a hole right through his heart. As if the world had turned on its axis, a sudden calm and cooling feeling rushed through his body. He couldn’t place where the feeling was coming from, but he liked the how sure he felt that he was going make it to safety with the medicine and the child. He pulled his sword and held onto the blade, waiting until the last second to heave it with all his might.

It spun, twisting and turning, shining like lightning and aimed right at the forehead of the beast. It pierced the skull and sunk in all the way to the hilt, the dragon’s eyes fading out before it even hit the ground. Griffin felt sudden elation, but another intense fear. What if the others were already here? He skidded to a top and spun around, scanning the entire sky in one steady revolution. There were no others. He felt the calm returning to his body and he also felt something else. A small, cold hand touching his right shoulder, just below the neckline.

Marin had her hand on his shoulder. The cooling effect was beyond exquisite. It felt natural. It felt real. But, most of all, it felt magical. He grabbed the girl and set her on the ground staring at her as she tucked her hand back into her tunic. Just before it was hidden from sight, he noticed it was blue. A dark searing blue like the late sky just before sunset. He stepped over to the dragon and pulled the sword free, cleaning off the blood with his pants leg.

“What just happened? You touched my shoulder, and I threw that sword without a thought. I could not control my own body. How did you do that?”

“I didn’t do anything. You did it. You killed that dragon and now we’re safe.”

“Why is your hand blue, Marin?”

“I don’t know what you mean. It’s fine. It looks just like yours.

He snatched her hand out of her pocket and found it just as pink and normal as his own. She's hiding something.

“How did you do that?”

“How did I do what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I saw your hand. It was blue...and cold.”

He stepped away from her, his hand gripping the sword so tight his knuckles turned white. He eyed the girl, now noticing that her skin had a slight bluish tint, and her hair was as white as snow. The more he looked at it the more blond it became until it was as yellow as straw.

“Who are you, Marin? Where do you come from?”

“I’ve lived in many places, but I’ve been here the longest. We came here when I was about four years old.”

“And your family? When did they get killed by Lagos? Was it long ago?”

“Yes. Almost three years now. I was alone in the woods until I got chased here by a group of travelers. They tried to scare me out of the trees, but Lagos came. They didn’t stick around long when they saw him coming. He circled for a long time waiting for me to come out, but I stayed hidden, and he eventually left. That was two days ago. I’ve been waiting here for someone to come. I knew you would find me, but I was not sure who you would be.”

“Who are you? Answer that question before any others.”

“I’m Marin. I am the last of the Filigren clan from the high mountains in the east. We were slaughtered by King Aramas many years ago and my family escaped with another small group. They are all dead now. I am the only one.”

“Tell me about what happened to me and the dragon. I did not do that. How did you do it?”

“I don’t know how it happens, but I know why it happens. When I’m scared or in danger, it takes over and I can’t control myself. My mother never got to explain what it was. She was killed before I was to be trained how to use my “gift”. I know some of the stories but that is all I know. I promise.”

“Am I in danger from you?”

“No. I can tell you are a good man. I can sense the good in you and I know your heart. Now that I’ve touched you, I can read your emotions and feel what you’re feeling.”

“Do you know what I’m thinking?”

“No. It does not work that way. I can pick up on your mood and your feelings. That is all.”

Griffin sheathed his sword, and he could feel her relax. He turned to the trees and then toward the trail leading home. He knew he couldn’t leave her, and he wanted to know more about who she was and what her “gift” was capable of, although he wasn’t sure he should take her home with him.

“If I take you with me, can you promise that my family will be safe with you? I don’t want to regret my decision.”

“Your family will be fine. I’m not capable of hurting innocent people. I can only defend myself.”

A thought immediately crossed his mind. That must have been how she’s been able to stay alive by herself for so long. Many children are killed, or sold into slavery. They don’t last long, alone and unarmed. But she’s not completely unarmed either. For the first time since they met, he’s been able to finally get a good look at her and he noticed that her clothes are a bit different, and her small jacket has a sheath for a sword, but it doesn’t seem to be in it.

“Did you lose your sword? I notice it’s not in the sheath.”

“It’s in the bushes down the path. As I ducked into a small briar patch when I was being chased, I took it out and set it down. A huge man grabbed me before I could pick it back up. It should still be there.”

“Let’s go then. We can look for it together.”

“Does that mean that you trust me?”

“It means that I don’t not trust you, for now.”

“I guess that will have to do until I can earn it.”

As the two descended the small rock path through the ravine, Griffin looked down at the girl. There was something special about her. He was intrigued, but at the same time a little fearful of her. She could sense his hesitation, but there was a glimmer of hope and trust growing with it. Time will tell if he did the right thing by bring her home. His whole future had taken a turn toward something unknown and mystical.