Page 42 of Dragon Eternal (Dragon Kings 4)
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Somewhere on Zora
She hobbled over the rocky terrain, careful where she placed her cane so she didn’t lose her balance. The wind whipped around her, threatening to topple her down the steep incline. Then again, it was always trying to knock her down. One day, it would win.
But it wasn’t this day.
When she finally reached the top of the mountain, she paused and looked into the distance. Dark clouds approached, a stark contrast to the bright, clear skies around her. Lightning streaked in beautiful displays behind the clouds, and thunder rumbled menacingly, harkening the impending storm. A deep boom of thunder, even from the current distance, told her the storm would be fierce.
She had been through rougher storms and was still standing. She had prayed for death once. Begged for it. To no avail. This was her punishment, and she had no choice but to carry on.
Magic had pulled her from the warmth and safety of her home this day. She knew better than to ignore such an invitation. The realm pulsed with magic. It ran in the water, sprouted in the leaves of plants and trees, wove its way through the ground, and hung in the air. Zora had been created with magic, which meant that the supernatural was at its very core.
Ignorant, bigoted humans who couldn’t do magic themselves took it out on others who could. That had been the way for many, many generations. But things were changing. The storm that approached wasn’t just about the weather. It warned of something unfolding through the realm that couldn’t be stopped now. At the very center of everything was none other than the Dragon Kings.
She wondered if she had done the right thing by pulling that Dragon King from his world to Zora. He had found himself in a fine mess but had gotten out of it. Then, more Kings came. She had expected that, however.
Their arrival had shifted something on Zora. She wasn’t yet sure if it was fortuitous or not. She may never know—until it was too late. Not that she could reverse time and undo what she had already done. No, she had set things in motion. All she could do now was watch.
She wasn’t the only one on Zora taking note of the change. The others felt it, too. They wouldn’t do anything. They never did. The one time she had, she had been punished severely. She’d learned her lesson. Not that it did much good. She was stuck in this hell and would be for eternity.
Her eyes closed as she felt the humidity drench the air. The storm was approaching fast. She thought about staying on top of the mountain. A memory surged from the deepest recesses of her mind. Her running through a thunderstorm, reaching for the lightning.
When she opened her eyes, a phenomenal display of lightning that lit up the sky, allowing her a brief glimpse into the frothy configurations of the clouds. The sun fell behind the storm clouds and blanketed the world in dark gray. The Dragon Kings were magnificently powerful, but she didn’t know if they were ready for what awaited them. The universe had granted them absolute supremacy in their domain, and it would be tested on Zora.
Many wanted the Kings to fall.
She was anxious to see how everything settled once all was said and done. Not a soul on Zora wouldn’t be affected in some way.
Change was coming. Whether it was good or bad had yet to be determined.
She had seen what the magic wanted her to see. She slowly turned and began the long descent to her cottage. There were those who sought her, but they would never find her unless she wanted to be located. And she had no interest in being found.
Halfway down, she set her cane atop a loose rock. She tried to catch her balance, but the ground soon rushed up to meet her. She rolled several times before using her magic to bring herself to a stop.
Her hands were slashed from the sharp rocks sticking up through the verdant grass. She lay on her side and gingerly pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her head pounded as something dripped onto her neck. The coppery scent of blood filled the air. Her entire body ached. There would no doubt be bruising. It would take a lot of power to heal her wounds, both internally and externally. She looked around for her cane and saw it a few feet away, just out of reach.
She extended her hand for the stick. Magic rushed down her arm and through her hand. The cane vibrated before flying to her. It landed in her palm, and she wrapped her fingers around it, ignoring the pain. She took her time getting her feet under her, and fat raindrops began to intermittently land. By the time she stood, the skies had opened.
She lifted her face to the rain. Once, long, long ago, she had danced in it. There was nothing to dance about now. But still, the memory lingered.
It was better not to dwell on the past. It was gone forever with only a long, lonely eternity before her. She had made her bed. She would willingly lay in it.
She opened her eyes and blinked against the downpour. Her face lowered. She regretted much, but the one thing she didn’t feel remorse for was what had landed her in this isolation.
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