Chapter 30 - Old Wounds

Author's Preface

After a night of drinking with Olar and swapping stories, Ryan finally passed out. He woke to Fyz staring over him. As he opened his eyes, he screamed and jumped back.

"Holy shit, you're just like Thirty-Seven." Ryan clutched his head. "Ahhh, I drank too much."

"My apologies. The generals finally returned from their hunt later than expected." Fyz sat on the edge of Ryan's bed. "I want to thank you. It has been a long time since I've seen Olar happy."

Ryan leaned forward. "Yeah, I gathered that much from our talks last night. But may I ask, why did you come back in the first place?"

Fyz sighed. "I fell in love with Turux immediately. He was kind, gentle, and held no bias because I was a Shadow Dragon. We met while I was out hunting for food. After our first meeting, he would come all the way out here to hunt every day. I decided to follow him after he convinced me to when I became pregnant." She sighed. "After Turux became king, he wed Alessia, and they had a child. I never married him, so Olar and I became outcasts. The council despised me because they were afraid of my clan. My clan hated me because I bore a child outside of the clan. But something in me felt like it was something I needed to do. I returned hoping Olar would have a better life. Hoping the clan would accept him. Looking back now, I do not regret any of it. It has brought you to us. It will allow the Shadow Clan to join dragon society and move freely beyond the confines placed on us." Fyz turned to look at Ryan. "There is much I regret, but Turux and Olar are things I will never regret. They are the two things I love more than anything in this world. If it means sacrificing myself to help them both, I gladly will."

Fyz stood and held her hand out to Ryan. "Enough about me and my circumstances. The generals are waiting, and Shadow Dragons are not the patient kind."

Ryan nodded and took Fyz's hand. He stopped for a moment. "I need my mask."

"You do not. Also, it isn't here. We sent it off to be modified with better enchantments."

Ryan sighed and followed Fyz out of the room.

As Ryan followed Fyz through the streets, the area had become normal once again. No more bowing or reverence. Shadow Dragons went about their business, selling goods, eating, drinking, and conversing. Ryan walked faster to get next to Fyz.

"Why is everyone in their humanoid forms? The other dragons seem to despise it or are too proud to maintain it. Your entire city is built for this form, while the main palace is built for your dragon forms."

"Have you ever tried gripping a piece of meat with massive claws? Or picking fruit? Or enchanting items? We have limited space here in the Outlands, so we have made do with what we have. This form is much easier for handling tasks and allows us to conserve space. Our true forms are meant for war, not living day to day."

"Holy shit, that's actually really smart and sensible."

"We may be dragons, but we are not stupid."

"No, no, I didn't mean it like that."

Fyz laughed. "I know. I have seen how the rest of dragon society is. Although it seems counterproductive, they have managed to thrive regardless. I cannot fault them. They are stuck in their ways, as the Shadow Clan has been stuck in ours." She looked at Ryan with a grin. "But I feel all of that is about to change."

As Ryan walked into a large hall following Fyz, he saw four dragons he hadn't met before. Each of them sat across from the four elders. Fyz walked up to a massive throne that was meant for a being of enormous stature. She gestured to Ryan.

"This is your seat."

Ryan stared up at the throne that stretched thirty feet tall. "A little big, don't ya think?"

"You'll grow into it." Fyz chuckled and walked to the opposite side of the table and took a seat.

Ryan hopped onto the throne. The generals sat to his right, the elders to his left, and Fyz opposite him.

One of the generals stood. "I am Poyq, commander of the Shadow Army. Without being too straightforward, may I see the egg?"

Ryan looked at Fyz. She closed her eyes and nodded. Ryan stuck his arm out as the egg appeared from his shadow and floated to his hand. Poyq stared at it for a moment, then turned to the other generals and whispered. He turned back to Ryan.

"It is an honor to meet you and to serve you, Master. We have waited long for this day. The Shadow Army is yours to command."

"The honor is mine, Commander. You are all much stronger than I am. I have fought against Ixur's dragons once and lost terribly. I implore you to help me in the coming fight. I could really use your strength."

At that moment, the doors to the chamber swung open.

"Excuse me, Leader Fyz."

Fyz shook her head and pointed at Ryan.

"Ah, yes, that's right. Excuse me, Master. There are intrud-"

The dragon's voice was interrupted by an explosion that blew the doors off their hinges and sent them flying. Through the dust and debris, five figures walked through. Queen Alessia, Tyrus, Serak, Kiru, and Alyssara.

"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?" Fyz yelled as she stood.

Poyq and the other generals stood and walked in front of Fyz. "What gives you the right to invade our territory? Do you wish to die?"

"What gives us the right? Funny you should ask that." Tyrus pointed at Ryan. "What gives you the right to take that man? I'll tell you this, I have no intentions of dying, but I will gladly kill you lazy bastards."

Alessia stepped forward, putting her hand on Tyrus's shoulder. "Fyz, I am aware we do not have the best relationship, but how could you do this? Are you working with Ixur?"

"You fucking dare accuse me of working with that scum of a dragon?" Fyz let her shadow magic consume the room.

Ryan sat stunned at what the hell was happening. Queen Alessia let loose her ice magic as the ice and shadows clashed.

"I love him too, Alessia!" Fyz shouted. "You could never handle that I came first!"

"Believe what you want! You abandoned him! Now you take away the one person who could help me find him and restore the throne!"

"ABANDONED! ABANDONED, YOU SAY! I left because of people like him!" Fyz pointed at Tyrus.

"Then why kidnap him and try to sabotage the prophecy? Are you trying to let Turux die?"

"One more word about Turux, Alessia, and I will crush you."

Alessia let more of her magic go, the force of both beginning to suffocate the room.

Ryan finally stood.

"ENOUGH, HOLY FUCK!"

Ryan snapped his fingers. Bubba, Veyra, Fido, Meatloaf, and Thimble now stood between Alessia and Fyz. Ryan hopped down from his throne and walked toward the two as they both recalled their magic and stared at him.

Ryan walked in front of Alessia.

"Does it look like I was kidnapped to you? Or that I am being held hostage? Do you see that big fucking THRONE I was sitting on?"

"But you left the cave. When I came to get you... you were gone, along with Olar."

"Yes, you are correct. Because he said I smelled familiar. He brought me here to answer some questions I had. And ones they had as well."

"Always so quick to judge, Alessia," Fyz blurted out.

Ryan turned. "You can shut up too!"

Fyz lowered her head toward the floor.

"What... what exactly is happening here, then?" Alessia asked.

Ryan summoned the egg again and handed it to one of the elders. She walked up next to Ryan and held it out to Alessia.

"Unbelievable." Alessia looked at Fyz. "This is the egg you used to tell me about, right?"

"It is."

"So you're saying he...?"