Lake of Souls Chapter 17

Previous Chapter

The rest of our evening was spent enjoying good food and a small amount of alcohol. Filon refused to let me have more than one drink and only if I drank it slowly. I pouted at him at first but then he explained, "When people get drunk a number of things can happen. Their inhibitions disappear which might lead to you trying to kiss me which as fun as that sounds probably a bad idea. You can get really sick if you drink too much of this stuff. Finally it can make your emotions go all over the place. Happy one minute and then crying the next."

I nodded listening to him before sighing, "Alright you win. Those are all valid points but it doesn't mean that I have to be happy about it. Also if I only get to drink a little then you have to as well." I stick my tongue out at him teasingly, "Wouldn't want you deciding that shaving another couple of years off your life is a good idea now would we?"

During our playful banter I began to notice the room becoming quieter. More and more eyes were turning our way staring at us. I finally decided to stop Filon and say something, "Can we help all of you? We were all having a good time but I'm starting to get a little uncomfortable with everyone staring at us."

A younger man I hadn't seen before stepped forward, "Are you two in a relationship? A knight and the King? The way you both talk and act it seems like it. I don't know how everyone else feels but at least for me it doesn't instill a lot of confidence to see my King acting like a love struck teenager."

I slowly stood up now mainly to truly impose my massive height on everyone watching. I then walked up to the young man who was now visibly frightened, "First of all his name is Filon, not simply knight. I will not deny my behavior in the least. Indeed I am in a relationship with that man and yes I may act a bit like a love struck teenager to use your language. However if you truly need a demonstration of what I'm capable of then I can present you with one.

I'm not here to act like a King. I'm here to actually be one. Trust me when I say there is a difference. Right now however I have an evening where I can't go anywhere right at this moment and so I have some free time to spend with my partner. What he and I do in our spare time is of absolutely no concern to you or anyone else there. Tomorrow morning will come and we will both march into the air kingdom alone to go deal with the problem of the winds. When we do, my feelings for him will in no way interfere with that plan because we are working together. If we were being a bit loud then I do apologize but that did not call for the response that was given. Now you will apologize for your behavior and go on with your business." With that I went and sat back down with Filon.

The room remained silent with everyone now watching the young man who was still trembling, "I'm sorry that I interrupted your evening King Xea and Filon. If you could please lower your voices only a little I think that would be appreciated. Despite the general noise of everyone else in here you were both being distinctly heard over it."

I looked at Filon who nodded and then I looked back at the young man, "Thank you for letting us know. We will be more mindful of everyone around us." With that the young man took a deep breath and walked away. Everyone else around us slowly went back to what they were doing and soon everything was back as it was before.

Filon looked at me with a slight smirk, "You almost let your anger get the better of you there. You've really got to learn to calm down when it comes to me. I already knew that people would act like this and I warned you that they would too. If you lose your temper everytime someone says anything about us you're going to be angry quite a bit."

I shrugged, "You are right and I know you are but I figured a quick show of force would end any more issues here and now." I leaned down and kissed the top of his head, "How about you and me go find somewhere cozy we can curl up in and get some sleep? We do have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Which also means actually going to sleep. No chatting through the rest of the night or poking at my scars just so you have an excuse to feel me up."

Filon turned bright red and glowered at me, "That's not what I do that and you know it! I'm genuinely curious about them. I don't need an excuse to feel you up anyways. You'll let me do that anytime I want." Filon stuck his tongue out at me now and then followed it with a playful grin.

I got up now with a shrug and grin of my own, "What can I say? It feels good to let you do it. Especially when you massage my back. I swear I never thought I would miss being a vessel but feeling pain almost makes me miss it."

Filon laughed, hopping up to follow me, "Well seeing as we're in a relationship you can't go back now. So you'll just have to put up with it but hey you do get a reward out of it. You get me!"

I laughed and shook my head, "You are too cute. Now come on let's actually go find somewhere to curl up at." One of the people standing around guided us to a room. There wasn't a bed or anything but that was fine. Filon and I curled up against one another. Him resting on my lap with his head cradled into my neck and I was laying against a wall. It didn't take long for us to fall asleep. My dreams were jumbled but I saw many smaller versions of the storm that had protected the Air King's temple in my dreams.

When morning came we were awoken by the same person who showed us the room. They let us know it was time for breakfast and that afterwards someone would show us the passage into the air kingdom. Filon donned his armor and we went to eat. While eating we saw the young woman with her child Fea. We spoke with her for a moment as we finished down the last of our food and then we moved on. The trip down the tunnel to the air kingdom wasn't especially long but there were a couple of times where I almost got stuck. Soon enough though we were standing at the other end staring out into a barren wasteland covered in more snow. The guard who had led us provided us both with fur coats to try and help ease us from the cold. We gave him our thanks and set out.

We walked for around an hour before we saw another living thing. It was a griffin that was trying to brave himself through the wings but wasn't doing very well. It was only able to keep itself up in the air for around thirty seconds before the wind would knock it back down again. It kept making a pitiful crying sound as if it were looking for another griffin. Its cries became more desperate and yet weaker with each one. Soon it was sticking to the ground no longer daring to brave the winds. Filon and I chose to avoid it for fear it may try to attack us. The sun had yet to reach its peak though it was hard to tell with all the clouds that were swirling overhead. I pulled my coat tighter around my body and looked at Filon, "We need to find what's causing this wind and fast. If we don't, I'm not sure how long we will make it."

Filon nodded, choosing not to say anything. His lips were already a slight shade of blue which had me worried. I pushed forward looking for any form of shelter. I now knew we needed to find something quickly. Filon tried his hardest to keep up with me but he was already a couple of steps behind me. I kept trying to find any landmarks that might remind me where we were as well as consulting my mental map. After a few more moments I realized we were near the dragons cave that Baunt had taken me to. I wasn't sure how the dragons would feel about me at this point but it was a risk I would have to take. I scooped up Filon and held him to my chest while running as fast as I could to the cave.

Thankfully it only took a couple of minutes for us to reach it. As soon as we were inside more than ten feet the temperature rose dramatically. I looked down at Filon, "Please tell me you are okay." His whole face had turned slightly blue and he had little frozen rivers of tears running down his face as he nodded slightly. I took a deep breath and continued holding him in my arms as I walked us further into the cave. Soon the color was returning to his face little by little.

Finally he spoke to me through slightly chattering teeth, "You know it makes me feel useless when you're carrying me like this but honestly it's kind of comforting too. I feel so tiny and insignificant right now and yet I'm happy to know you're watching out for me."

I smiled down at him, "Of course I'm watching out for you. That's what friends and partners do. Just like I know you're always watching out for me. Consider this my repayment for saving me last night from that guy who was going to stab me." I stopped where the tunnel we were in finally opened up into the main cavern. Looking around I was confused because there wasn't a single dragon in here. Everything else was just like I remembered but the whole room was empty. I looked back down at Filon, "Do you think you're okay to walk again now?" He nodded and so I gingerly set him down. I walked further into the cavern trying to determine how long it had been empty. From the looks of things it seemed like I was the first thing to disturb the dust in this room for at least a couple of weeks. Suddenly I could hear the noise of something walking coming from a tunnel on the other side of the cavern. I looked at Filon and whispered, "Find somewhere to hide. I'm not sure what's coming." He nodded and found a small outcropping of rocks to shove himself into.

I stood in the center of the cavern and waited for whatever was coming to appear. A smaller younger dragon that I didn't remember seeing upon my initial visit here crawled out from the tunnel. When it saw me it quickly rushed towards me. I drew my blade from my back and got ready to defend myself. It pulled up short and studied me, "King Xea is that you? Have you come here to put a stop to my brethren and their mad plan? Please tell me you have!"

I stayed on guard but relaxed slightly, "Who are you and what do you mean? Are the dragons the ones responsible for freezing the earth kingdom? If they are then why are they doing this? This is not the time for such foolishness!"

The dragon nodded, "Yes they are the ones doing this. They stand on the highest cliffs in the kingdom and beat their wings day in and day out. They blame you King Xea! For both the death of the Air King and the death of Baunt. So when you made your grand declaration across all the lands they decided to rebel against you. They do not believe you fit to be the King of any land. If you come with me I can take you to where some of them are gathered."

I sighed and thought for a moment while I sheathed my blade, "Filon come out. It seems we have work to do, far more than I originally anticipated." With that Filon cautiously came out from his hiding spot and joined me. His eyes never left the small dragon in front of us. I speak to the dragon now, "Tell me, do you actually know what happened to Baunt?"

The young dragon shook its head, "Only what my brethren have told me. That you slaughtered him for his loyalty to the Air King."

Now it is my turn to shake my head, "Absolutely not! Baunt died defending me from a manticore. He managed to defeat it but the manticore got in one last bite with its tail and killed him. He was the first person I was able to call a friend during my initial journey through these lands. I watched him die in front of me and even though I didn't have the emotional ability to understand that I was sad at the time, I now know that indeed I was greatly saddened by his passing. So now please take us to where the others are. I would like to settle this issue quickly."

The dragon nodded and turned scuttling along the floor back to the tunnel it had come from. Filon and I begin to jog to keep up with it though we slowly start to fall behind. The dragon stops occasionally to let us catch up before moving again. I realize that the tunnel we're in is slowly slanting upwards and the air is getting colder again. I call out to the dragon, "Are we nearing the outside? My partner and I will not fare very well out there. We almost didn't make it to the cavern before the cold overtook us."

The dragon stopped and turned around waiting for us. Its face was one of concern, "I'm not sure then what we will do. To go find my brethren we must go out and up a mountain. It will only get colder the further up we go."

I closed my eyes and sighed, "Give me a moment to think. I'm sure I can come up with something."

Filon spoke up, "Xea this dragon has told you that all the others believe you to be no King. That they seek to ruin your plans. Wouldn't that also mean they seek to bring you harm as well? However it was before that your voice reached across all the lands do it now. Call them here to you, instead of you going to them."

I turned and placed a kiss on Filon's head, "Beautiful idea! Now let's see if I can do it. Let us head back to the cavern and I will try there." A short while later we are in the cavern again. I sit down in the middle of it and close my eyes allowing my consciousness to flow out into the land. I continue this meditation until my mind is touching all of the land including the dragons. I take a deep breath now, "This is King Xea! I sit in the cavern of the dragons and demand their presence. I, the killer of the Air King and friend to the great dragon Baunt, await the dragons so that I may know why you seek to bring chaos to this world." I opened my eyes and looked at Filon, "You think that got their attention?"

The young dragon began dancing from foot to foot as if suddenly they were on fire, "Oh it got their attention! They're all coming back now, every single one of them is flying this way. I can hear their wings beating against the wind. You better get that big sword of yours ready!"

I shook my head, "No I will not brandish my weapon unless absolutely necessary. I have no intentions to fight if I don't have to. I will find a peaceful way to solve this." Suddenly I could hear the beating of the wings as well coming from all of the tunnels and then the sounds of stampeding feet. "At least I hope I'll be able to." I mutter to myself.

Soon dragons are pouring out from every tunnel surrounding me, Filon, and the young dragon. All of them look ragged but ready for a fight. Their plan for destabilizing the kingdoms has taken its toll on them however there are many more of them than there are us. A crimson red dragon larger than the rest pushes his way to the front. His choice booms through the cavern shaking the pebbles around him as he speaks, "So the vessel Xea finally dares to show his face here. I honestly didn't think you would have the courage after what you did to our kingdom, to our world, and most heinously to Baunt! You wicked creature, what do you have to say for yourself!"

I fully turn myself to him so that I can stare into his eyes, "First I am no longer a vessel. Second, I know what I've done to this kingdom and this world which is why I'm trying to fix things now. Finally I did not kill Baunt! He gave his life protecting me from a manticore. He defeated it only to be bitten by its tail as it struck out one last time. I acknowledge my sins but I will not be falsely judged and punished for ones I have not committed!" My voice ends up matching the volume of the dragon before me. Despite my height I still have to look up to meet its gaze. "Now I ask you to cease manipulating the winds and destroying the earth kingdom. Your war with them is over. I'm the one who ended it. If you absolutely feel the need to go to war then I'll oblige you but I want our world to heal. There is no longer a need for us all to suffer from the chaos that has enveloped the land. Join me in my quest to bring peace to this land."

The large dragon snorted at me and then turned to the small one beside me, "Do you stand with the vessel or has he tricked you with his words? Will you side with the man who killed Baunt?"

The young dragon cowers but speaks, "I will side with the King. I believe his words and if you weren't so full of hatred you would see the truth in them too."

With that the large dragon lunged forward his mouth wide open looking to bite the younger dragon. I rushed forward lowering my shoulder and slammed into the side of the red dragon's head knocking him off balance, "If you seek to attack someone then you will fight me! You will not punish this child simply because it answered your question." With that I drew my blade and stepped in front of the smaller dragon. Holding my blade up in front of me I waited.

The red dragon pushed itself up and roared loud enough to shake the walls of the cavern. The other dragons lowered their heads as if the roar caused them to all fear for their own lives. He stared at me, his eyes narrowed. I could see Filon off to my side trying to watch everything that was going on while also moving away from a place of danger. The cavern was now silent to the point you couldn't even hear anyone breathing. Filon's foot caught against some loose debris causing it to scatter. The noise rang through the cavern and the red dragon now lunged at Filon. I rushed forward with my blade in front of me intending to stab it. However as I ran I realized that I wasn't going to get there fast enough.

Suddenly time stopped and the god appeared in front of the dragon and looked at me, "Seems like you have a situation here."

So I think I'm starting to develop a thing about putting characters in danger. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. If you did then please heart, subscribe, and feel free to leave a tip. You can now also pledge 3 dollars a month to me to help support me as I continue writing these stories. If you do, you get the benefit of always having my stories at the top of your subscription feed. Till next time. Below you will find a link to the next chapter as well as the original short story.

Next Chapter

Original Short Story