Touch of Flame

Ravina was sleeping on the sofa, her mind trying to comprehend what happened to her. When she realized just how real the dream had been, she had panicked. She still didn’t know how all of that was possible and she couldn’t wait until she could speak to Chanan.

Ares.

She had felt him. Touched him and they really spoke. The fact that she felt relieved meant that she had truly met him, apologized, and assured him she was alright. And it felt so good to talk to another human after so long. One she could tell her anger about without feeling guilty or bad for doing so.

But… she spoke to him as if he was another dragon tamer. It was just a feeling. From what she knew there has only been one at a time and Chanan had seen her so how could he be and how did they meet?

Some of the things she had said to him also made her think. She spoke about her mission and her reason for existing. Why? Why was she specifically a dragon tamer? She had a lot to ask Chanan.

Her night was filled with strange dreams of forests and seas and ships. It was strange and then the morning was here. Or not. She overslept again it seemed. Strange.

“Do you want breakfast or lunch?” Mara asked.

“Oh Lord,” she ran her fingers through her hair.

“It is good that you are getting sleep. I am glad.”

“What have I missed?”

Mara chuckled. “Nothing more important than sleep. Malachi just left.”

Left? She shook away whatever feeling crawled to the surface. She refused to live in fear of leaving. One of the things she enjoyed the most about being here had been the freedom from isolation and fear of being attacked if she went outside. She had been able to roam freely here and discover nature, mountains, and fields. There was something about nature that had helped her heal and find some peace. She didn’t want to go back to staying indoors to avoid danger.

She rubbed her eyes. “I would like coffee first,” she said. “I will go change.”

In her room, she quickly washed up and changed and then went back to the parlor. She was pleasantly surprised to already find Chanan there. As usual, he must have asked for only a cup of water that was placed on the table in front of him.

He smiled upon noticing her. “Malachi told me you might still be sleeping but I decided to still come by and see.”

“I just woke up,” she admitted and went to sit down. “I am glad you are here.”

“What is weighing your heart?” he asked.

“More like stressing my mind.” She said. “I think I need to know more about what I am.” She lowered her voice. “Why am I given this mission? Well, aside from being reborn but still the previous me was given the mission.”

“You might not realize it yet, but it is what you truly want. What you burn for and no one can accomplish such a mission unless they burn for it. This means more to you than anything else and your upbringing and childhood have something to do with it. You might carry Arshans spirit but you are still you.”

“You still think I have those qualities? I mean, are you sure I am a …”

“Yes.”

“Well, I had this dream…” she went on to tell him how real it felt and that she met what she believed to be another tamer.

Chanan frowned. This was new to him.

“Tamers usually have those very vivid dreams that are real in a way or are somehow a prediction.” He was thoughtful.

“So there is a possibility he could be another one like me?”

“Yes. There is always a possibility. I have just not heard of any dragon ruler having a breedmate yet.”

Breedmate? Her heart stopped. How come she didn’t think of it? If he was a tamer that meant he was a breedmate. She felt some strange uncomfortable feeling in her chest.

“It is strange..” he then continued. “You said you felt free to talk to him about your past life and your mission, yet he is not a priest.”

She was confused. “What do you mean?”

“You can’t share your secret with anyone but your guiding priest for your own safety.”

He didn’t have to explain much. She felt it. The urgency to speak to him and no one else.

“But you could tell him.” He continued to be thoughtful.

“I found out about what I could be in studies done by a human professor.” She said.

“Well, there is information out there about your kind but none is accurate. I am sure yours wasn’t either.”

No, it wasn’t.

“A very long time ago, tamer had another definition and that is usually what people believe it is but as priests we know the true definition.”

“Is it only priests that know then?”

“Well, there are other creatures with abilities that could know.”

“What creatures?”

“Witches, seers, and all sorts of people with abilities beyond normal that could involve magic or the supernatural. They could know.”

She nodded thoughtfully. “Could I tell such people?”

“Since he is no priest and you could tell him, he is either something more or he is like you.”

She recalled that she found him a little different and she had a strange feeling that he would live, so maybe there was something more.

“What if he is like me then? What does that mean?”

“Things always change. Perhaps if there are two of you now, two is what the world needs.” He told her.

So it was that bad?

“And if he is in fact like you then maybe the dream is a way for you two to communicate .” He added.

Maybe…

“Do you know any witch or seer or anyone who can help me find my sister?” She asked.

“Have you asked Malachi to look for her?”

“No. The last thing I need is for him to get hurt while looking for her. There are very dangerous weapons out there today.”

“I don’t know anyone like that,” he replied.

She sighed. The fortune teller who came here only confused her and she also had this strange feeling about her uncle but it couldn’t be. It seemed impossible for him to be her father.

“What should I do now? I mean with what I am.”

He smiled. “You are already doing what you are supposed to do. No one needs to tell you. Even if you didn’t know what you are, you would still be doing what you are meant to do.” He said.

He then took a moment to watch her. “All the pain that you have been through, all the hurt and hardships, all the suffering and all the fury you carry inside will be your strength.  Your fuel. There is a reason why YOU are a tamer.” Chanan honed.

He then turned his head with a frown and looked at the window.

“What is wrong?” She asked.

He stood up without a word and began to leave. Ravina followed him. There was a flock of people outside going somewhere and Chanan followed the flock. Ravina wondered what was going on. They arrived outside the courthouse, where people gathered in a circle around the small tower in the middle.

Malachi and his brothers stood there together with those she recognized as the messengers. There were also a few more men and she specifically noticed the man on his knees helped down by two other males.

“What is happening?” She whispered.

“That is King Tural of the white dragons,” Chanan explained.

Oh no. What was happening?

Ravina looked at the man. He was bruised and his head hung low. It seemed as if a fight occurred before this.

One of the messengers stepped forward. “The King of dragons, Malachi has recently been attacked by white dragons where both him and his breedmate almost lost their lives. Evidence has led us to King Tural and by the law, death will be his punishment.” The man spoke calmly as if he was delivering some good news.

Suddenly one of the men shifted into a dragon, and Chanan put his arms around her and turned her away from the scene.

A cold shiver went through her. What would happen? She heard a strange sound and then it was followed by a few gasps.

“We should go back,” Chanan said leading her away.

She didn’t protest. “What did the dragon do?”

“Took the head,” he said simply.

Took the head? So that was how they executed.

“While the X clan chooses a new ruler among them, it will be under King Malachi’s rule.” She heard the man continue to speak.

This seemed to get worse. What would happen as a consequence of this?

“This is bad, isn’t it?” She asked Chanan.

“It depends,” he told her.