Alni Read online

  His hands curled into fists then spread out, trying to keep consciousness by focusing on simple movements, the lot of it was proving to be quite difficult. There was dirt in his face and mouth, a small ladybug desperately crawled away from Alni’s line of sight as his body settled into the new pain he was enduring. Sure the bullies had beat him plenty of times before, but normally there was someone around to stop them. Out in the middle of the Nevina forests, no one would help him. Named after an elven maiden known best for her healing, it really was ironic.

  Through all the pain in his stomach and upper torso, through the ringing in his ears, and the incoming migraine, their laughter seemed to cause him the most rage. How they could laugh so hard about his pain brought forth an anger that he had only experienced a few times in his life. Alni was used to the pain and the taunts, used to their fists, but the breaking point had finally come.

  At this point he felt no more pain, but a tingling sensation that burned through his chest and down his arms, ending at his fingertips where it stayed. It welled up until it hurt, feeling as though there was some force there that, unless freed, would burn off his fingers.

  Alni found the inner strength to uncurl his body and, before he could stop himself, he directed both hands upward towards the shapes of the vicious boys. They stared at him, wiping their eyes as another wave of laughter erupted among them.

  “Gonna fight us, Alni? Imaginary friends gonna come out and get us?” Orlon managed out in a wheeze, hands on his knees as he bent down and gasped for air.

  Alni said nothing as the pain in his fingertips increased, the tingling turned into a fire, a fire that, with a loud sizzling sound, seemed to explode right at the laughing boys in a bright purple flame. Each bully flew backwards several feet and landed sprawled across the ground. One skidded backwards on his backside, a flabbergasted look about his face as his hands rose in an attempt to shield himself from the surprise explosion.

  They scrambled to their feet, backing away, staring at Alni with their mouths agape and their tongues lolling with unspoken words. Orlon’s hand trembled as it pointed towards Alni. With a shaking voice he sputtered, “Boys…G-Get him.”

  They both pivoted to stare at him, one shaking his head as though the mere thought was a sign of how stupid their leader just might be, “Excuse me, but did you just feel…and see what happened?” He was rubbing his arm where the mysterious explosion of power seemed to have left a red, raw burn.

  Alni was having a hard time focusing. His hands fell to his sides as his head rolled forward, emerald eyes blinking at the ground as he tried to get his bearings. Although the pain at his fingertips had ceased, the explosion had left him feeling drained and exhausted. He was fighting to even keep his eyes open despite being far from out of danger’s way.

  The three boys seemed to notice the change in Alni’s energy right away. One took a slow step forward to test the grounds a bit, but Alni did not make a move. The others followed soon after, not quite ready to run off and admit defeat now that their target had seemed to knock himself out.

  “He’s completely drained, boys, and whatever he did must be considered illegal magic, right? Trying to kill us, right? We can report that!” Orlon tried to rally them, dark eyes looking from one boy to the other.

  Alni groaned, rolling over to his side suddenly as the three boys gasped and jumped away from him. He felt an overwhelming urge to spill whatever food he had in him from the last day, but managed to sit himself back up trying to get to his feet. One of the boys quickly grabbed for the pack at his side, shuffling through the items they had brought with them during their hunt. He pulled out an old, worn rope, untangling it from a rusty hunting knife as he handed it to Orlon.

  The promise of gold coin in exchange for someone who had magic and used it against them? Especially an elf against humans? It was enough to drive them back towards danger without another thought. Within minutes, Alni was tied upright against a large tree, head resting on his shoulder as he tried to fight the numbness that had taken over his body. A numbness that did not allow him to fight back or strain, rendering him useless at the hands of his tormentors. They were starting to disappear from his vision, blurring into each other as a darkness threatened to take over.

  He was vaguely aware of loud screaming breaking through his haze, all three boys racing away from his fading sight, tripping over themselves in an attempt to escape the clearing.

  The last thing Alni heard before losing consciousness was an earth-shattering roar.

  Chapter Two

  When Alni awoke, the forest had been cast into evening darkness, shadows attaching themselves to every tree and fauna.

  He was no longer tied up against the tree, but instead was lying upon the ground, his head heavy against the fallen leaves and roots. Finding the energy to sit up, he cradled his head between his hands for a moment as he tried to regain memory of what had happened.

  Just a dream

  But why was it he felt so utterly drained and weak? Clearly he had taken quite the beating and if his memory spoke true, it was at the hands of Orlon and his band of farm animals.

  Glancing behind him, Alni peered up at the oak tree and saw the slashed rope hanging loosely from its trunk, two additional pieces lay near his body. This had been no dream, of that he was now certain. Had one of the boys felt sorry enough to cut him loose?

  Standing slowly and carefully he attempted to stretch; only to suck in his breath with the pain of it all. He leaned down and one hand grabbed onto the rope at his feet, feeling it between his fingers as he mulled it all over, suddenly remembering the boys running from the clearing screaming; of the sound that had sent them away.

  “Who has helped me? Show yourself!” He yelled out suddenly, ignoring the pain as he whirled around and searched the darkness for any sign of life or a threat.

  When no reply was forthcoming, he backed up until he was against the tree. Alni slumped against the oak and slid downward to the hard forest ground. He listened carefully, picking up on a soft rustle across the way. It was just the smallest bit of movement, probably a mouse finding its way back home. Nothing that would have sent three of his enemies running away in terror.

  Panic seized Alni as he remembered his things. Although he had buried his pack beneath a pile of fallen leaves near the oak, there was always a chance that his savior or the boys had found it and taken it with them while he was helpless.

  Relief washed over him as his searching hands made contact with leather. He pulled the pack from beneath the debris and opening it carefully. There was his journal, an old knife, several changes of clothing, and a small bit of food. Just enough to get him to the neighboring town as his goal had previously been. An attempt to get away from everything, including the very boys who had wandered out past the borders of his old home. It had been just his luck he picked a hunting week to leave everything behind.

  Reaching deep inside, Alni pulled his journal from the confines of his pack and opened it, fingers pinching along the thick pages as his eyes searched for the map. It was badly sketched but after begging the merchant in town to describe his routes to him, it was the best he’d get. There was nothing more lack of coin could produce those days and the merchant had been generous enough. It gave Alni some bearings in his attempt to explore Desin for the first time.

  There was a snap behind the tree and Alni clutched the bag close to him, hand slipping inside to pull out an old, curved knife that had once been his father’s. The only protection he had been able to obtain for himself, something he had taken from the ashes of his old home. The cold steel in his palm refocused him, a direct contrast to the unknown heat that the power from before had provided.

  “Come out! Show yourself!”

  ~

  Silthia watched the boy with narrowed crimson eyes, her black talons gripped the ground beneath her and ground up the dirt and undergrowth within her grasp. Her spiked tail, used many times in wars as well as the hunt, curled around her body protectively. S
he no longer cared to be silent and had seen enough of this boy to know he was no threat; although part of her questioned why she was making herself known. She had only meant to help and keep the boys from killing him, nothing more.

  Hadn’t the humans destroyed her home? Her family? But still, the boy had been helpless, and alone. Curse her softness. And indeed she did curse it. How many times had her judgement been cast aside for something that she gained very little from? How many times had she fought for freedom only to be a pawn for a bigger power, whether it be elf or human? Dragons were powerful, ancient beings and yet, in the end, the respect of Desin had been given to elves.

  Silthia’s oval nostrils searched the air for a scent that would tell her anything more about the boy. Even being so close to him when he was not aware, she had not wanted to risk that he’d awaken but her curiosity would not be sated. When he continued to call out for her to show herself, Silthia decided to approach him, large body lowering as she ducked beneath a dark branch and moved into the clearing before the young man.

  His eyes bulged, mouth opening wide to scream, but no sound came out. She didn’t expect any less of a reaction from the boy. It wasn’t often the beings of Desin were faced with a dragon unless it was there to destroy their town or force their loyalty to King Mallor. Neither of those things fueled her trip to the forests that day, but the poor lad had no way of knowing that. He had probably never laid eyes on a dragon before, for many years they had been dormant. Surely he thought he was on the menu that day.

  “Hello, boy.”

  Her words were soft, dancing across the distance between them.

  Alni was looking up and down the dragon’s huge, scaled body, pausing at the sharp talons and long fangs overlapping her mouth. She was a deep, opal coloring, shimmering in the soft light cast through the forest. Frozen still in place, his eyes lowered to the powerful tail resting on the ground behind her, mind racing with thoughts of the damage that could be committed with one swipe of it.

  “Are you mute, or foolish?” She was almost concerned for the creature for he had neither screamed nor moved.

  Just like the food she often hunted, he was dumbstruck, staring blindly at his doom. Had he no backbone? She slammed the ground with her tail, and the sound made his body jerk. Jumpy little thing.

  “Hello c-c-creature.”

  The dragon’s crimson eyes flashed, glowing in the darkness as they narrowed in on him, “Creature?! I am no creature, you little worm,” she lowered her long head, snout directed at him as her scaled lips curled back to further expose her white, deadly teeth.

  Silthia moved forward quickly, forcing Alni to shuffle backwards until he was against the tree, the silly knife in his hands shaking.

  The dragon lashed out with a huge claw, knocking the knife from his hand and moving to rest on his chest, pressing him against tree, allowing him to breathe, but just barely. Alni coughed and struggled for breath, eyes wide as he stared into the eyes of the dragon that would surely kill him.

  Silthia laughed, “Pitiful boy, I am no creature.” She lightened her grip allowing him to breathe more comfortably, “I am a dragon,” it was said proudly, chest puffing out as her long neck lifted, eyes focused on the boy beneath her claw.

  Being so close to him, she sensed something different, a faint shift in his scent that she had not been aware of before. One large talon gently moved his hat from his trembling head, uncovering his pointed ears as it fell to the ground.

  “An elf?” she growled, eyes narrowing as she inspected the small ears.

  She didn’t bother to correct herself, though it was clear the being before her had human blood mixed with the blood of her species’ captors. She was enjoying the fear she inflicted; it had been a long time since she had been able to scare a single being this much. Ages since she had felt pride at what she was and not hidden herself, waiting to be beckoned by the King.

  When she spoke to him again, he saw a sparkle of mirth in her crimson eyes and could not help but think that maybe, just maybe, he was indeed not in as much trouble as he thought. He nodded, the movement slow as he studied her threatening face.

  “Aye. Half-elf.”

  “Why were you tied to the tree, elf?” She purred, leaning down as she sniffed at the ground beside him, the wind from her nostrils knocking the leaves away from the rope upon the ground.

  “Just some boys who don’t fancy me, that’s all. You…freed me? Scared them off?” He questioned, finding some amount of pride and bravery after he had not been immediately turned into dinner.

  “Tell me your name, boy.”

  “Alni.”

  “My name is Silthia,” she stated simply.

  She tensed, tipping her head to the side, listening to the forest for a moment before lowering her talon from his chest and giving him some freedom to regain his composure. She looked down at him, and Alni could have sworn there was a smile about that rough face.

  “Your friends return, elf, I can hear them making their way back here.”

  Alni opened his mouth to inquire further but she had kicked up from the ground and into the air, sending dirt and rocks spraying around him. There was a groan from above as her weight settled in a tree. It was almost as if she had never been there, only a deep imprint where her clawed hand had been pressed into the earth and a gust of wind where her wings had hit the air.

  There was no laughter this time from the boys as they approached, instead Alni heard angry, low whispering. The three of them had hunting knives in their hands when they entered the clearing once more. The two in the back were shoulder-to-shoulder as they searched wildly for the cause of the sound that had scared them away earlier.

  The boys, noticing Alni was free, stopped suddenly, eying him in trepidation. They all remembered the power he used on them earlier and the threat that could very well still remain.

  Orlon took a step forward and growled, eyes falling to the knife upon the ground and cut rope. It was clear to them all that Alni had used the knife and cut himself free.

  “Thought you’d be fed to that…thing…” His words trailed off, looking over his shoulder at the other two boys.

  They had kept their distance, but with that look flashed in their direction, quickly moved closer. “Got yerself out, we see,” Orlon added, head jerking towards the rope.

  “A little help from a friend, actually.”

  “You ain’t got no friends,” One of the boys quipped.

  “You would be surprised. I apparently do,” Alni retorted, slowly moving towards the knife on the ground as he kept his eyes on the trio.

  Orlon started shaking his own knife in Alni’s direction, taking a few quick steps forward to stand closer to the weapon on the ground, prohibiting his victim from grabbing the defense.

  “We don’t wanna see you around here no more, orphan. ‘Specially if you have evil magic about! We saw what you did back home and aren’t gonna let it continue. Don’t know how some half-breed got himself magic, but someone’s gonna want to find out.”

  Suddenly, the wind kicked up around their heads. There was a flying shape that was diving at an alarming speed towards them, cutting the air like a knife. Silthia’s leathery wings slapped with such force that Alni’s hands rose to cover his head as dirt and forest floor was sent in all directions beneath her body. The spread of her wings was easily twice her length, making her appear even more massive with the darkening sky behind her.

  The two boys had left Orlon behind, running away as fast as their legs could carry them. Their leader was left quivering in the middle of the clearing, the foul scent of urine filled the air around him. Silthia roared loudly and the trance was broken. Orlon ran out of the clearing and into the forest after his friends, high-pitched shrieks escaping his lips, the likes of which Alni had never before heard from a grown boy. Clearly the sight of an eighteen-foot-long dragon was enough to drive him into action.

  The moment they were all gone, she lowered herself, strong legs making contact with the gro
und as she propped herself up near Alni and folded her wings to her side.

  “Why not eat him?” Alni inquired with a nervous laugh.

  He was certain he still wasn’t safe, but it was clear that she didn’t want him dead yet, otherwise he’d be long gone already.

  “I don’t eat fat humans. They upset my stomach,” she said, amused, “Don’t worry boy, I don’t eat elves either.”

  Silthia stared intently at Alni. It was a few moments before she said anything, clearly weighing the choice of her next words.

  “Boy…do you have a safe place to stay for the night?”

  “This is as safe a place as any I know.”

  “Yet it is not safe for you,” Silthia retorted quietly, looking away from Alni and surveying the forest.

  She leaned her head down so it was level with Alni and spoke quietly to him. He swallowed nervously. The closeness brought her fangs so near to his face that Alni could see his reflection shining in the white bone. That close she could sense the magic he had, knew he was the one she had been searching for.

  “I know of someone who can help you, a secret place I will take you. But you’ll speak of it to no one. Come after me, Alni. I will not take no for an answer.”

  He seemed transfixed for a moment but to her relief he nodded vigorously, hands lowering to gather his things. She forced a twisted smile across her scaled muzzle, red eyes shining in relief.

  After all, he was who she had been looking for. He was the boy that would save her so much trouble.