The Dragon Keeper

There weren’t always dragons in The Valley. The one that separates Trysik from the rest of Vyskah. Trysik, where the ruthless, cold King Shealor resides. About three months ago, Vyskah would begin to experience its downfall, or more accurately the downfall of its King. On that fateful day, the grounds shook violently. The open blue sky clouded with angry, dark plumes. They swirled and rained havoc on Vyskah. A blinding light whipped across the sky. Hot and bright. Then dragons began swirling from the skies, diving into the valley. They burrowed into caves, made The Valley their home.

And they ARE NOT friendly.

“Find the keeper. Only they can command the dragons.” A booming voice had said.

Princess Vesabelle knew immediately the dragons would be nothing but trouble and she knew her father was unhappy. She’ll admit, she thought the whole thing was a load of crap. Who would want to command dragons?

But her father, greedy and heartless, wanted the dragons at his command. Not only had they made The Valley waters uncrossable, they interrupted King Shealor’s plan of building a bridge. A bridge that would collect a toll and nearly halve the travel time to and from Trysik. The rest of the states have port cities, Trysik does not.

The initial aftershock of the dragons arrival was nothing short of total chaos. So far, the dragons have remained in The Valley. Though Cleymil and Mypel residents have moved away from The Valley edge.

King Shealor gave the people of Vyskah one week. One week before he announced the hunt for the keeper. No one is spared. Everyone must be tested. Which wouldn’t be so bad if his means of testing weren’t, quite literally, throwing his people to the dragons. Countless of them have been swallowed whole, legs and arms ripped off, families torn apart.

So, Princess Vesabelle did what any sensible princess would do. She ran.

She knew the king would have thrown her to those horrid beasts as well. Uh uh. Nope. Princess Vesabelle thought. She shivered just from the fear.

Naturally, the king was the first to approach the dragons, hoping he would indeed be the keeper. Of course, King Shealor allowed himself the luxury of total guard. Surrounded by a wall of valiant men, men that fought for him and enforced his laws, the king was completely concealed. And when the dragons turned their ferocious maws on him, he sacrificed every last one to get out of The Valley.

When Princess Vesabelle ran, just two days after the king’s announcement, he made sure all of Vyskah knew. Most everyone has labeled her a deserter. She doesn’t much care what they think. She has no intentions of sacrificing her life for theirs.

In the measly months that have passed, she has made it to the forests of Cleymil. Not as far as she would have liked, but what she could manage given the circumstances. When she ran, she left in the middle of the night. Followed the river north behind the palace to the sea. There, she snuck aboard a ship and got off in Cleymil. She had to go the long way around many times to avoid being seen. Her goal is to make it to Truth Island. Where she hopes she can hide away forever.

She will leave the forest at the southwest edge, follow the shoreline to the mountains of Symil. From there she will have to trek across the dry lands of Symil to the mountains of Mypel. Once she crosses those, she can take shelter in Veil Forest and figure out how to cross the sea to Truth Island.

Princess Vesabelle knows the king has sent his men for her. They will take her back kicking and screaming. She just has to stay hidden until she can get to the island. Night is falling quickly and she will have to find somewhere to rest.

She needs to go into town for supplies though. Night is the best time for that. When she is less likely to be recognized. It isn’t far from the forest. She could easily sneak in and be back to the cover of the trees before anyone noticed. Pulling her hood tightly over her head, she stepped out of the forest.

Vesabelle kept her pace quick. Every minute she used gathering supplies was less she had to rest. When she made it to the edge of the town, she had a sinking feeling she had made the wrong decision. The town was much more lively than it should be when the sun had set nearly a hour ago. She kept her face tilted down, eyes on the ground as she walked.

She made her way around the town quietly, securing some bread and jerky and refilling her canteen. She was juggling the items precariously, trying to stuff them into her bag without stopping, when she ran right into another person. Her food and water tumbled to the ground and she knelt quickly to retrieve them. “Sorry, let me help you with that.” Vesabelle’s blood ran cold at the voice. A voice she knew. She kept her head down and prayed to make it out of this.

With the dirty food and empty canteen, she shoved them into her bag. “Let me buy you new ones.” The stranger said. But Vesabelle knew better.

“No thank you. I should be going.” She pitched her voice high, almost annoyingly. She tried to step around the man, but he followed and cut her off.

“You seem, familiar. Have we met before?” Vesabelle was a not surprised Carter noticed. Carter has been in her father’s legion the shortest time. Close in age to Vesabelle, but he isn’t any less deadly and arrogant as any other in the king’s legion. Vesabelle has two choices; keep up the charade or run.

With a deep breath, she bolted, clipping Carter’s shoulder on the way. A quick glance up and she confirmed it was indeed him. The recognition set in on his face immediately. “Stop her!” Carter shouted and more guards started on her tail.

Vesabelle ran. She ran like hell hounds were nipping at her heels because they may as well have been. As much as she wished she could turn around, fight them off and stand her ground, Vesabelle was not a badass warrior princess. No matter how many times she wished she was.

She made it back to the edge of the forest in record time, barreling into the copse of trees. If there was anything she was good at, it was climbing and hiding. Even she could admit that much. So, she ran minutes into the forest before securing a tree and ambling up. Not her most graceful, but efficient. She went as high as she could and kept her breathing quiet. Moments later, three guards broke into the forest.

“She has to be in here somewhere. Find her.” One of the guards she does not know the name of spoke. Rather loudly.

“Vesabelle, you can’t hide forever.” Carter taunted her. If she had it her way, she most certainly would hide forever. Or she would die trying. Determined to wait them out, she secured herself to a branch and let her eyes drift shut for only a moment.

When Vesabelle opened her eyes, dawn was just breaking. She had enough light to see the forest floor. The forest was silent, and she saw no one below her. Untying herself, she prepared her descent. She landed back on the forest floor with a soft thud within minutes.

“Some things never change.” Vesabelle’s spine turned to steel at the new voice. Turning, her eyes confirmed her ears. Waiting, just a few paces from her, was Ahren. Carter and another guard behind him. “Isn’t that right, little sister?” The endearment spit from his mouth like acid and Vesabelle hated herself for not considering the king would send her own brother after her.

“This is the part where you shackle me and drag me to my death, older brother?” Vesabelle spit back at him.

“Always so dramatic with you. Carter, restrain her.” Carter follows Ahren’s command, securing Vesabelle’s wrists in shackles with a chain that secures her to him. She allows it to happen, knowing she is no match for them right now. She would wait until her first opportunity and get away.

Carter dragged her behind him as they walked out of the forest, heading for the town. “We are to be on a ship at sunset. The sooner we get you to The Valley, the sooner things can go back to normal.” Ahren states. As if she wouldn’t be torn apart in the first five seconds.

“You know I will end up dead. I guess you take after father more than I thought.” Vesabelle’s spits at her older brother. He says nothing. “And have you, Ahren, gone into The Valley and been tested?” She asks him after only seconds.

“Of course I have. All three of us have. That’s why we are wasting time searching for you.” He doesn’t look at her and she doens’t mind. At one time, Vesabelle might have thought they were close. Almost friends. But everything changed when Ahren turned 18, three years older than herself. In the six years since then, he’s only gotten colder. The third guard walks behind them, and remains quiet. Vesabelle determines she does not recognize him.

Ahren leads them through the town to a tavern. “I think we’re due for a celebratory drink. Carter, secure her to the post.” Carter obeys, tethering her chained shackles to post outside the tavern.

“I am not some kind of animal you can just chain up!” Vesabelle shrieks. They ignore her. Her cheeks flame at the humility of the situation. They leave her secured to the post while they go inside the tavern and she curses them in her head.

Hours have passed and Vesabelle is tired from standing and humiliated from the stares she has received. She needs to figure out how to get out of these shackles before her brother returns. The sun will begin setting soon. The town is winding down, preparing for evening.

“What’s a pretty lady like yourself doing chained up?” Vesabelle turns her head. An aging man approaches her, hunger in his eyes. She knows the type and she sees her opportunity.

“All I did was steal some meager portions of bread sir. You wouldn’t happen to know how to pick these locks would you? I’m sure I can repay you for the service?” She gives the stranger her best sultry look. As much as she hates it, she is familiar with it. Many times did she use this same tick for her father’s benefit with lords. Her father always told her that her best asset was her beauty. Chocolate hair and blue eyes. Just like her mother.

“Those are nothing for me to take care of. You just wait one moment.” The stranger steps into her personal space and she holds her breath at the smell of him. He reeks of ale. She watches as he shoves stick things into the lock holes, maneuvering them in a way she doesn’t understand. As soon as her hands are free, she does the only thing she can think of and kicks the man in his shin, hard. He falls with a yell just as the tavern doors open and her brother and the other two walk out.

“Vesabelle, give it up.” Carter growls, already advancing for her. She doesn’t wait. She turns and runs. Fast. Without thinking where she’s running to, she ends up exactly where her brother wanted her. At the port city, where the ship is waiting.

“You’re out of options little sister.” Ahren taunts her as she barrels onto the dock. She casts her eyes at the sea. Swimming to the Symil mountains is not ideal, but Vesabelle knows its her only chance to get away.

“Are you sure about that older brother?” She smirks just before she dives into the sea. The water is cold, waves are harsh as she comes bobbing up gasping for air. She doesn’t allow herself to stop though. She dives back down, swimming in the direction she thinks the mountains are in. She just hopes she doesn’t hit a boat. When she bobs back up for air again, she risks a glance behind her. She can see Ahren and Carter shooting daggers at the sea. With a triumphant smile, she dives back into the sea.