The Journey of a Thief, Dominique Pearce (heavenly.kaos) [ebook smartphone txt] 📗

the village, I almost immediately understood what Luneth meant when he said I was like the opposite. The houses we’re small and cylindrical, looking as though they couldn’t hold more than a family of three or four. There was a thin stream that ran through the village, probably one of the off streams from the river we’d passed earlier. The people were hard at work, some of them hauling water, others forging steel, things of that matter. I was almost shocked at how simple Okia was compared to Eruyt, the place I called home for so many years. The tall buildings and merchant filled streets were nothing at all like this small, simple little village.
“Alright, we’re here,” Luneth called. I realized that I was brought to a standstill, and I wasn’t breathing. I pulled myself together and followed him into the center of the village. “That over there is the patriarch’s house. If you have any issues, talk to him.” I only nodded in reply, to show him I was still alive, I guess. I was in too much shock to do anything else, anyway. I had no idea... this is nothing at all like I thought Okia was like.
“Hey, are you okay?” It was Luneth. I shook my head, I had to pull myself together. “Yeah, uh, I’m fine.” I told him. “It’s just... I had no idea this is what your home was like.” I turned to him. “I guess I owe you an apology. Sorry.”
Now he was shocked. ‘Is she really apologizing?’ he thought. ‘She doesn’t seem like the type to admit when they’re wrong.’ What was that supposed to mean?? I kept my temper, but I wanted to smack him across the face so much right then.
“Thank you,” I said as calmly as I could. It didn’t come out well, I was too quiet and my voice cracked. “For taking me here, I mean.” That try was better. He came out of shock and looked away. “Sure, uh, no problem.” was all he said, and then he disappeared deeper into the village. I did the same and made my way to the leader’s house. Maybe he knew something about the dragon I was looking for.
. . .
I sat down in the living area of the village leader’s house, on the floor. My assessment when I got here was not far off. Even though his house was the largest of them all, it was still rather average sized. A second floor, two bedrooms, a kitchen, and the room I was in now. It was actually quite small compared to most of the homes in Eruyt. Then the leader, a man about 30 or 40 years old with short brown hair, entered the room. “Sir, it is a pleasure to meet you.” I stammered as I stood up. He only shook his head and said, “Take a seat, Sage.” I did as I was told. “Now. Introduce yourself, please.”
“Uh, I am Sagus Kitiraa Natu, sir. I would like to ask you a few questions.” My voice was unusually quiet, and my hands gripped the carpeting on the floor. “A few questions, hm?” he answered. He sat down on the other side of the small wooden table. “What kind of questions would a Sage from Ivvana wish to ask of me?” This man was making me quite uncomfortable. On the surface, he was trying to be helpful, but I could feel his hatred and impatience through his slight glare.
I cleared my throat. “Nothing you would be too concerned about.” I simply replied. Rule # 18: Always keep a good poker face. Let them see what you want them to see. “You see, there has been activity reported about a certain dragon infestation. I’m certain that you were the one who wanted the... pest... gone?” Saying this was hard for me. I never thought anything negative about one of the dragons before. If anything, I loved and respected them more than anything else. But I had to maintain my poker face. “Well, I was sent by the Council, specifically for this case.” I bowed my head in respect. “I am at your service.”
“Ah, yes, that feral dragon. It’s about time the damn Council sent someone here. It’s been nearly a month since I’d reported it.” He spoke to me with a slight tone of anger, even though it wasn’t directly aimed at me. Wait, did he say a month? The Council never takes that long to answer a threat like this... “Our entire village has been living in fear! Nearly half of our people have already been slaughtered in the war, and now with that damn dragon, the body count is yet increasing!” He leaned back a little bit, and wiped his hand down his face. “My sister... she... she was taken by that... that feral beast!” I understood his hatred, but I just wished he wouldn’t speak like that. I decided I should try to calm him down, or else he would swear and curse all day.
“Sir, I need you to calm down. I know this is hard for you, and I’m very sorry for your loss, but I need you to remember. You said your sister was taken. Now, when was this?” His face became solemn and sad. “I don’t know,” he simply replied, through a cracked voice. “I guess... a week ago. She was out fishing, with my daughter. I told her I loved her before she left, and to take care while she was out. That was... the last time I spoke to her.”
I personally thought this was very interesting. “Wait, wait, wait. You said, she was fishing?”
“Yes, with my daughter.”
“Sir, what are the ages of your daughter and sister?”
Aleena, my sister, is about 35, and... I think Sylphi is nearly 14, about your age, actually.”
“Where is Sylphi now? Was she taken as well?” I asked, intrigued.
“No, she is here. I sent her out to collect wood earlier, accompanied by my dear friend, of course. She... she is the only family I have left, now.”
This was strange. Usually, if a dragon does have to resort to eating human flesh, they take as much as they can at the time being. Assuming this is a very wise dragon, and a very hungry one, there would be no reason for him to spare Sylphi. Then, an idea hit me. “Sir, what color are your daughter’s eyes?” I asked him. He looked confused. “What does that have to do with Aleena?” he questioned. “What does it matter?” I shook my head. “Sir, it’s very important. Please answer the question.” I told him. There was a brief pause. He seemed to be pondering what to do. “Sir, please.” I said somewhat impatiently. “Green.” he said. “Sylphi’s eyes are green.”
Just what I thought. That proves my theory on why she wasn’t taken. A girl with green eyes has the ability to speak to dragons; a girl like myself. As for the reason Aleena was taken, the dragon was probably attracted to the smell of dead fish. Maybe Sylphi can help me track the dragon down.
“Thank you, sir. That will be all. I promise to help find your sister, and anyone else who may have been taken. And again, I’m very sorry for your loss.” I got up a little bit faster than I should have, and hurried out the door. “Wait!” he called. “What does that have to do--” I slammed the door shut before he could finish. I need to find Sylphi.
I began searching the small village, looking around buildings and in small windows, running here and there. I soon gave up the search, though. I had no idea what she looked like, let alone where she might be. And I didn’t know this village at all. Even though it was small, it was still very easy to get lost, with the dense trees and boulders around here. I stopped running and bent over and put my hands on my knees to catch my breath. I saw Luneth in the distance, chopping wood, and I ran to him. Maybe he could help me out.
“Luneth!” I cried. “Luneth, wait!” I stopped and hunched over again. I was completely out of breath at this point. He stopped chopping wood and ran to me. “Hey are you okay?” he asked, clearly concerned. “What have been doing, running up the mountain side? You look like hell.” I looked up to him and answered him with a glare. “Gee, thanks; that’s what every girl wants to hear.” I bent back down.
“No, really, what’s wrong? You aren’t going to pass out, are you?” He put his hands on my shoulders, and lifted my face to look me in the eye. Now that I was really looking at him, I realized how good he looked. His eyes had a concerned look in them, and they were the most beautiful shade of silver, almost like crystal. His black hair was pushed back out of his eyes and was almost glossy; he had sweat on his brow from all the work he had been doing. His body, even through his shirt, was lean and muscled. Our faces were already so close, our eyes were only half a foot apart. I had never looked at anyone the way I looked at him then.
I realized I was still short of breath, but not because I was exhausted. It was because of the way he was looking at me. I stood up straight and shook my head. I couldn’t let my guard down. Not in front of him. “I... I’m fine.” I struggled to say. “I just had to... do a lot of running... to get here.” I backed up a little bit and ran my fingers through my hair. “Look, it doesn’t matter...” I sighed. “Just... You know a girl named Sylphi, right?”
I guess he figured I was okay, so he went back to work chopping wood. “Yeah, she’s the patriarch’s daughter. Why, do you need to see her?” he asked. He swung and hit the wood perfectly down the middle. “What color are her eyes?” I asked him. He stopped working and leaned on the handle of the axe. “I dunno, green?” He gave me a confused look. “Why does it matter what color her eyes are?”
“More than you know, trust me.” I simply replied. “I know why Aleena was taken and not Sylphi. And why this dragon is attacking Okia in the first place.” He set up some more wood and swung again, this time it didn’t go straight down the middle, but pretty close. “Kitiraa, that’s great, but what does that have to do with the color of Sylphi’s eyes?” He set up another piece of wood. “Okay, first, the dragon is probably hungry.”
“Hungry?”
“Yes. You see, dragons very rarely resort to eating human flesh. It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard, we’re aren’t that appetizing to them. The only reason this dragon would be attacking Okia and taking villagers would be if all other food sources were gone. It was probably