Dragon Frost (17 page)

“
No. I
think I’ll sleep, thank you.” I say as I push open the wooden
door.

“
I
thought you were going to freshen up?” he says emphasizing the last
two words in a sarcastic manner that I know he’s using air quotes
for and I don’t even bother turning over to scowl at him as I skate
into my room and under the covers. I know we have to stay here for
a few days and investigate a few matters but I think I like the
idea of sleep. It didn’t take me straight away but once it did, I
didn’t wake till the next morning.

The
morning light, enters my room though the small round glass window.
I kick my brown woolen blanket from my form feeling almost hot. I
can hear no stirring winds so I figured the snow storm has past. I
hear gentle knocking on my door and look up to see a shadow under
the door. I stride to my door and pull it open, revealing Altair
standing with a sly grin and I frown. “Hungry?” he asks. I nod.
“What? Not talking to me today.” he says but I brush past him and
let him think whatever it is he thinks when things don’t go his way
or “did” in this case. “Breakfast is to be prepared soon in the
adjacent tavern.” he says and I nod once more at him, opening the
front door I exit our shared compartment.

Yesterday, I have to admit was more fun than I had in
years. Beats scowling or frowning because I couldn’t be bothered
caring most of the time when I know that’s mostly true . . .
dejectedly there’s a part of me that’s still attached to those
around me but buried deep within my heart or my soul even that I
can’t begin to weave out because it feels like an impossible task.
I move towards the adjacent tavern where I hear the laughter of men
and women well before I manage to make my way close enough. The
sound of their deep laughter and merry music is what brings my mood
up a bit but still I remain impassive.

I enter
the tavern and regard a room full of men and women clustered around
small wooden table stationed with wooden chairs. Feeling a familiar
aura, I turn to see Altair and Varden standing behind me, I guess I
was so engrossed with the harmonious and happy atmosphere that I
didn’t seem to notice them approach. I enter and lead the way to a
table at the far end of the tavern. By the time we manage to make
ourselves comfortable a woman has taken our orders and vaulted
away. “So what’s got you down?” questions Varden and I turn to him,
I didn’t say anything yet I can’t help but stare at him for a
moment longer than I expected. He really did look like him. He
really did look like John.

He
doesn’t seem to mind, though, I turn away.

“
Fine,” I
say and Altair clears his throat. I guess he’s noticed the
resemblance as well.

“
We’re
going to have to stay here for some time.” says Altair and I nod.
“Reports have been coming in about unusual spiking in Covenant
activity.” This was information we received from Gustof before we
left and were required to check all possible Covenant activity
along our journey to Midra still I can’t help but wonder why they
are occurring? When our orders arrive, we eat our meals in a more
comfortable silence with a hint of ineptness. I try to brush it off
and focus on my meal and my task after. It isn’t long until we
found ourselves at the edge of the town; a coat of snow surrounds
us. It’s boundless and empty no life is seen and I feel more
content in this environment. The silence makes my mind feel much
better more relaxed.

“
What
exactly are we looking for?” questions Varden and I wonder through
the blanket of snow that leave a trail of my boot marks behind me.
I hear them follow.

“
Anything
that appears out of the ordinary.” comments Altair. And I stop.
Something is here. Something threatening . . .

“
Like
that?” questions Varden I turn to where he stops by my side, Altair
on my other side stop and turn to him as much as I did. We follow
his line of sight and a roar echoes throughout the white meadow. A
Sylith stands tall—a winter monster—its golden eyes regard as with
anger as his front paws stand before it. It has the skeletal layout
of a gorilla on Earth but the difference is it is a lot bigger and
power—surviving only in the harshest weather of winter. I watch as
not one stands before us but three, the two others pull themselves
from within the snow. Just like how demons use the shadows to
transport; they use the snow.

“
Yeah
like that.” Altair growls as I hear a zing sing throughout the
meadow. The sound is as comforting as the sun. I reach over my
shoulder and unsheathe my Prevail.

“
Varden.
Stay back.” I state. I hear a thud and turn to him. His leather
satchel is on the ground as he pulls over his bow he had draped
around his torso, arrows in its quiver and he takes aim.

“
Not a
chance.” The icy fury in his blue eyes stops me from arguing and I
turn back to the Syliths. Several things I’ve noticed about Varden
these past few days, is one; he’s as stubborn as an Ox and will
take more than a mountain to move him, two he’s brave and a bit
thick headed sometimes and three really knows how to bring trouble.
I flip from the icicles that are sent our way as enemy projectiles.
I see Altair has brought up his large silver shield; he slams it
into the ground where it is stationed while Varden fires from
behind it with Altair. Seeing that two of them were shot down and
the third now on the ground. I turn to them to see they have a look
of accomplishment in their eyes.

You know
how you have those friends . . . the ones that try to be better
than you or try to demote you even though you know that your social
status is far higher than theirs. This how it felt now, my heart
heavy as I recall that moment. There was a trace of truth in the
lie, it was a game I wanted to play but never really back fired.
This game I played with my friends, with “those” friends because I
felt that they had already crossed the line. So I intended to just
show them how much pain they have inflicted upon themselves by
continuing to continue whatever it is they continue to talk about
behind my back.

I always
knew when they were talking about me and I always knew when they
were just that “money hungry”—no one likes those—they are nothing
more than parasites just like my friends and just like these
monsters they will fall. Still they are the same very friends that
feed off of you so they can promote themselves and yet it only
makes me despise them more and enjoy their downfall so much
more.

They
forget they are playing a dangerous game and I’m the sharpest tool
in the shed, I won’t hesitate to cut them to pieces if it means
they recognize where they stand. The sight of the three monsters
are ugly and fearsome as ever, still Varden appears to have this
fire in his eyes—something fell to mind, 
I hope he isn’t like
them?
 I think in
reference to my past experiences with so called friends. There was
a part of me that was happy they were dead but there’s another part
of me that knew there would be more like them.

The fire
present in his eyes is something I can’t completely ignore,
something I once had now though, that flame has been extinguished.
He takes them down the moment they rise; Altair is quick with his
arrows—no surprise there. That man could take down a whole army as
can I; that’s what we were trained to do “no mercy, no regret, no
chance” the creed of our Order “there’s no mercy given to you from
your enemy so do what you must without regret if you don’t you’ll
have no chance of survival” those words as far as I can remember,
have been embedded in my mind. Through thick and thin they’ve
stayed.

That is
what I live by that is what I’ll die by.

Several
more Syliths fall from under siege of my party. I have yet to join
the fight Preying on their weak points I intercept one of their
current attacks, I take him down, my sword slides through his torso
where I stand over his now deceased body. The next one draws
towards me. I regard it with a deathly stare. “Nindo . . . ”
whispers one and I frown. How could they possibly know who I am? Do
they have any connection to Golgotha?

“
Kal?” I
hear Altair utter wearily. He had a reason to. Anyone who knew who
I really is after my blood. They were after my powers and if
desperate they were after my trust fund. I glare at the Sylith. How
dare it think it can intimidate me!

“
Are you
done ugly?” I question unamused, their numbers only increase and we
find ourselves in a full blown battle, the frost beasts continue to
use their element to their advantage. There was a time when the
snow turned hard and I was grasped in a large fist. Not even the
arrow from the men helped but I managed to slice my way through and
wiggle out of its grip before it decided to munch out on me. Still
their icicles continue to smash against my iron—like scales it
exploding against my form as I run towards them at full
speed.

It is not
as fast as it would have been if I were in my Nefaliem form but
when you’re kind of stuck in between both forms “Human and
Nefaliem” and lost your abilities you are as fast as your muscles
can take you which is fast enough to not allow the snow beasts to
catch me as I slip around their ankles and bring several down on
their knees. I manage to take out eight or so while Altair stays by
Varden keeping the shield for him—knowing he will be killed by the
icy mortars and daggers—easily. Sometimes I forget how fragile
mortal men are. I hear another roar and I recognize it. It roars
like we do. I turn to Altair. His expression is what I
feel—shock.

A
 Frost
 Dragon.

I don’t
like the idea of fighting our cousin race like the Nephilim so
instead I drop my guard for long enough that a Sylith knocks me to
the side, his large hand is forced down on top of me as it’s sharp
teeth growl down at me. I wiggle under it to have it force its hand
around my slender form which honestly made me feel tiny and I
wasn’t a tiny woman—I am slender yet toned. Fit for battle. Fit for
birth, I scowl. I hear large footsteps approach and I freeze. A
snow blizzard picks up out of nowhere and I see piercing blue eyes
staring back at mine. It only approaches. I can hear the calls of
Altair and Varden but only faintly. I feel hypnotized—lost
even.

‘
Nefaliem,’
 I hear its words gently tickle my
mind.
 ’Why have you come?’
 I don’t answer. 
’Why have you
come?’
 its voice
more demanding in my mind.

‘
We have been informed that Covenant activity has been
occurring around these parts.’
 Its eyes lock on to mine and I feel a sense of not
fear but comfort.

‘
There is no Covenant bound monstrosities, I have seen to
that.’
 It states. I
nod.

‘
Still we were given orders.’
 I think and it doesn’t say anything for some
time. The blizzard stops suddenly and I know it is the dragon’s
doing. Dragons do not open their mouths to speak so they
communicate mentally just like most species of the Mystic,
Supernatural and Otherworldly. There are some species in this
universe who speak through verbal communication because they lack
the mental capacity to use their telepathic side of their
brains.

‘
Come.’
 It
says.
 ’Bring your friends too.’
 It turns from us and the Sylith turn from us
and follow the dragon as it wonders across the white ground. The
snow causes the blue crystal and scale dragon’s wings and body to
glisten under the sun. I couldn’t help but admire it from a
distance. Altair and Varden stand over me as they both help me to
my feet I didn’t notice they had arrived since my gaze was locked
on the dragon’s retreating form and I couldn’t help but
think.

‘
So that’s what we look like?’
 Altair turns to me with an odd
expression.

“
What do
you mean?” he asks. I shake my head and smile at Varden’s
confusion.

“
Nothing,
Come on.” I say and lead the way. Altair follows beside me. Varden
I can feel hesitates.

“
Are you
sure?” he asks from where he still stands.

“
Positive.” I say over my shoulder and continue to walk. We
enter a cave at the end of the large open white frost covered
meadow and I glance at the frozen layout of the cave. I can’t help
but smile at the sight of the dragon. A natural sky light is
displayed upon the dragon where it stands on all four paws—tall and
proud—fearsome and brave. I couldn’t help but agree at what they
now mean when they say “dragons are elegant yet formidable
creatures” it made me feel a bit of pride for what I have. I have
pride? That’s new. I stop at the edge of the lighting where it
transcends down from the single opening high above. I feel Varden
stand closer to me, I turn to him and see him eyeing the snow
beasts around us with fear that he tries to hide.

It’s
evident in his eyes.

Like the
animals I’m forced to hunt at times have the same sight of fear in
their eyes. I don’t say anything. 
’Why are we here?’
 I ask.

‘
To give you information of course, you will not find any
Covenant groups here but you’ll find them in the northern mountains
there they have set up camp and driven out the natives
there.’