Golden Blood -- Ch. 26

Chapter Twenty-six - Jay


Solan and I were taken through the city streets swiftly and quietly, gathering horses and more soldiers as we went. Some of the men bound my hands and tied down Solan's wings. They'd separated us, but even from this distance I could see Solan was shaking.

It… It'll be all right, I tried to comfort him, though I knew it was pointless.

This is your fault… He growled in response.

I warned you! You're the one who wanted to come! I tried to calm down and think about what we could do. There were men everywhere, most of them with weapons. Escape seemed impossible. I could only look back longingly as we went further and further through the city, until we finally emerged outside into the rocklands. So we were being taken away from the city itself? What could possibly make me so important that they would abandon the horde of escaped dragons just to take me away?

I remembered back to awhile ago, the first time we'd been attacked. The soldier had said something about me--something about how "people like me" were wanted. I could only assume that by that he meant my telepathy; it was the only thing that set me apart from everyone else. But did that mean there were others like me? And why would we be wanted, if not to be killed? The only person who knew the answers to those questions was King Tharan himself--him, or perhaps the man riding a horse not far ahead of me. The mysterious High Tamer.

I stared at the man as he rode. It was not the same tamer we'd seen before, riding atop the mutilated dragon, but he wore the same uniform. Black with the royal insignia. What could that mean? All I knew was that the uniform was now synonymous with terrible things in my mind, of warped skin grown over grotesque accessories… I shuddered. Was that the fate that awaited Solan? I hoped with all my soul that that was not the case.

Again… how could I let this happen again? Solan moaned. I was silent. There was nothing I could say that could make him feel better. Even now, I had no idea what had given him the determination to rush into a human settlement and try to rescue me. He wouldn't even do that to save members of his own species.

At least whatever he'd done with magic had worked. My telepathy was under control again, and it was with a subconscious ease that I conversed with Solan now. My mind was my own again, contained in my body. The events that had occurred earlier seemed almost like some sort of terrible dream, the only remnant of which was the soft pounding behind my eyes.

We slowly advanced through the wilderness. Occasionally a soldier would prod me in the back with a sword or spear, prompting me to walk faster. I shot looks behind us whenever I could. I was hoping to see the form of an advancing figure--Mailliw, or the dragons, or a lot of dragons come to get us--but there was nothing, only flat land and tall rocks. I felt my heart sink slowly as we continued. I was an idiot to believe that anyone would be able to follow us; we'd left the city very discreetly. I was in the hands of fate.

The weather wasn't overly hot, but walking at the same pace for so long, even in decent weather, was thirsty work. Hours later, my thirst had solidified into a dry layer of sand in my throat. Once I felt like I couldn't take it anymore, I finally asked one of the soldiers for a drink.

He just looked straight through me, ignoring my question.

"Um, hello?" I asked nervously, hearing a dry rasp to my voice. I cleared my throat loudly, but the soldier still didn't react. "Am I allowed to have a drink…?"

"Hah… you sound like you actually expect him to respond." The High Tamer chuckled, looking back and down at me. I didn't like how far he towered above me while riding the horse, it unnerved me.

"Am I not allowed water?" I frowned.

"Well, I guess that depends. Right now you are a prisoner, arrested for crimes so heinous you are being taken directly to… well, a more secure environment in any case." He paused. "Wanted posters of you have circulated all over the Kingdom, and General Vory himself has expressed interest in personally carrying out your sentence. By law, you are now lower in rank than my horse. Now, you tell me. Are you allowed water?"

I stared at him, speechless. "What… what on earth did I do!?"

"That information is classified. Highly classified." The High Tamer tapped his head and smiled. "Though the fact that the General himself has taken such an interest in you means that whatever it was, it must have been terrible. A crime against him personally, perhaps?"

The note of question in his voice seemed to genuine, and I looked up at him. Could it be that even he didn't know what was really going on?

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"You realize that I am not entitled to even speak with you, right?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Agh!" I cried in frustration. He was only toying with me, grating on my nerves. He wasn't planning on telling me anything of importance. "At least tell me this, then. Why take the dragon?"

The High Tamer looked curiously over at the form of Solan, shuffling along in the midst of our little caravan. "I though it… interesting… that the dragon broke in at the very moment you were in trouble."

I struggled to hide my surprise. "Why would it be interesting? It's just a dragon."

The High Tamer scrutinized me. "I wonder if you mean that."

I blinked. "Are you saying that the dragon somehow knew about me?" Of course Solan had known about me; that's the reason he broke into the building in the first place. But if the High Tamer himself believed that dragons were no more than animals, why would he have taken an interest in Solan…?

"My thoughts are my own. Remember, Raldon, legally you are nothing but a criminal. My orders may be not to kill you, but no other instructions were passed. Thus if I was to deliver you to my commander when you were beaten within an inch of your life, it would be no inconvenience to me."

I stared at him in surprise. He was threatening me…! Had I hit a nerve somehow? His face didn't change, it still had that easily superior expression, but the tone he was speaking in had somehow gained a shadowed depth to it.

The High Tamer looked down at me, and slowly his effortless smile sunk unto a frown. "I want to test something."

He motioned for the entire group to stop, then spoke quietly with one of the soldiers.

What's going on? Solan asked, searching out my eyes from across the crowd.

I don't know, but I don't like it…I replied, keeping an eye on the High Tamer. I felt a sense of dread spread through my chest when I saw that he was now holding a long, wicked-looking whip.

The High Tamer came towards me. "I'm not sure who you are, Raldon, or what you're like. But there's one thing I want to ascertain before I hand you over to my superior."

"… And what is that?" I asked nervously.

"You'll see," The High Tamer sighed, continuing towards me. To my surprise, he brushed past me, and continued on until he reached Solan.

It suddenly clicked what he was trying to do. "Wait, stop!" I called, but the High Tamer didn't listen. He brought back the whip and lashed out violently, dealing a strike along Solan's back.

I heard the dragon give a cry of pain. Kraasua! He called through telepathy. Why is he attacking me?

I don't know! I responded, panicked. "What are you doing!?"

The High Tamer looked back at me, then motioned for his men to drag Solan closer. I could see him clearly now. The High Tamer whipped him again.

"Why are you upset if I'm just whipping a dragon?" He called back to me. "Why do you care what happens to this creature?"

"I… I think it's cruel," I protested, wincing as the High Tamer whipped Solan again. "Stop it, please!"

"Hmm." The High Tamer slowly folded up the whip and handed it off to one of his men. "Interesting, for sure. Shall we get going?"

I watched him closely, trying to figure him out. He looked smug, smiling to himself, very pleased with whatever he'd proved. I looked back at Solan, whose head was down, his eyes closed. I closed my hands into fists. How dare he! Injuring Solan, just to prove a point… To prove that Solan and I were friends, perhaps. Well, he got what he wanted.

The High Tamer hopped back onto his horse and the crowd began to move again. I looked back over at Solan, asking him telepathically if he was all right, but he did not respond. Damn it… there had to be a way out of this. We had to get away from these people.

I didn't get my drink of water.