Greetings all
Since I was booked off for a week with strict instructions to not sit in front of my computer, as soon as I was feeling better, I started writing more on Fell Dragon. I actually managed to write several pages and ended up writing a good portion of Bolx's history. I am quite happy with the direction of the story at this point.
As for the current story line, note that this arch is about Saita coming to terms with what happened to her and making amends with her family. It may be slow on the action, but be wary of triggers that may occur.
Please enjoy the next update!
Myla stood outside of Saita’s room wringing her hands. Knowing that Saita had been unconscious last time had made it easy for her to see her, but now that she was awake Myla couldn’t bring herself to enter the room. Pura had taken a seat in the hallway with Doran, and they were quietly conversing with Lardan about something or other. The Queen slowly made her way into the room. She found Sash writing on a data pad while talking softly to the small red-haired child that was sitting in the armchair that Myla had sat in previously. At first, Myla was annoyed that the woman had brought her child to work with her, but when the boy turned to look at who entered the room her heart shattered.
Aidan, her only grandson. The boy she could barely look in the eye after everything had happened. She had had no idea that the Saith had brought him to Saita. The boy immediately dropped his gaze and grimaced. Sash looked up and said quietly. “Afraid you just missed her. She doesn’t remain conscious for very long at this stage.”
“How much longer should she remain in traction?” asked Myla, trying to avoid eye contact with the boy.
“Due to what she went through in the first week after getting injured I would say at least another week until I can be sure most of the bone has knitted. After that, I’ll redo this cast, and then with luck, she’ll walk out of here in about six weeks. Ever since this young man showed up Saita has shown more will to wanting to get moving again.” Sash patted the top of Aidan’s head. “I think I hear my dad outside. Would you like to finally meet him, Aidan? Every time you have come round to my house he has been working.”
“Could I have a minute with him?” asked Myla softly.
“Why of course. I’ll be right back. Saita tends to drop off for about an hour or so, then she’ll be awake again to eat then sleep a little more.” Sash left the room to talk to her father.
Myla stood looking at her grandson while he seemed to be actively avoiding her gaze. She sighed softly before saying. “You grew big.”
The boy didn’t say anything, but he did finally look up at her. She didn’t know what to say to him. During his time with her and Karesh, they had barely spoken to him, barely acknowledged his existence as the two of them were mourning for their daughter. He had been a continual reminder of their massive mistake, and neither of them wanted to be reminded of what they had done.
“Aidan…” Myla started.
“Just don’t.” whispered the boy. “Don’t try to explain now.”
He looked to his mother and continued. “I know it was difficult. I know things went wrong. We deserved better. I know everyone was trying to protect me, but no one spoke to me. I felt lost, scared, and unwanted. I deserved more than that.”
Myla went to sit on the other side of her daughter and viewed her grandson. She had never heard him actually speak like this before. When she first met him, his sentences were short and full of longing to get to know his mother. His speech had certainly developed, but he was bitter and angry. He was mirroring his mother in every way.
“You did.” She agreed. “I have no excuse.”
Aidan continued to just look at his mother, but it was clear that he was fighting his own emotions at confronting his grandmother. This must have been something he had been hanging onto for a long time, and now finally had the courage to speak the words.
“Is it better if I go?” she asked.
He shook his head and got up out of the chair. “I will leave.”
He maybe got two steps from the chair before Myla said. “Come here. Let me have a look at you.”
Everything in the boy told him to just leave, but his feet obeyed the order and came to stand before the older woman. She first ran a hand through his hair before cupping his face and making him look at her. His eyes were swimming with tears of frustration.
“You did deserve better.” She whispered as she stroked his cheek gently. “You deserved a family, a mother, a father, grandparents, and you were left with nothing but guardians. I have no excuse, and I am sorry it came to that.”
“I…”
“You are a lot like her. Did anyone tell you?” Myla indicated with a nod of her head to the sleeping form of Saita.
“Everyone.” The boy grinned as he rubbed at his eyes.
They stood like that for a while before Myla asked. “Can you give us another chance?”
He looked at her in confusion before she added. “To treat you like you are family.”
He half smiled and nodded his head. Myla gently kissed the centre of his forehead and said. “You are my first grandchild. Do you know that?”
He shook his head and rubbed at his forehead.
“Aidan.” A voice gently called him from the doorway to the room.
He spun around and saw Doran standing there beckoning him over. He pulled away from Myla and went to join the soldier. He didn’t have many memories of this man, but his mother had often talked of him, and he had made her very happy.
Doran put a hand on the back of his head and led him to where a larger Saith was standing next to Sash. His hair was black and speckled with red streaks. He was wondering about the braid that was tucked behind his right ear when the man spoke.
“I am General Lardan Royal Guard.” The Saith introduced himself in the trade language as he set a hand forward. “You may have heard of me before.”
“Doctor Sash says you will kidnap me.”
Lardan snorted and tried to fight a grin as he went to one knee to shake the boy’s hand. “Don’t tempt me, your mother is still going to be stuck here for a while. Doran here tells me you are far more mature for your age than most children. How old are you?”
“Six and a quarter.”
“Six* and a quarter* my, my, you are taller than all three of my children when they were that age. Tell me, do you take after your parents?”
Aidan looked up at Doran and shrugged. “I don’t understand.”
“Do you like to fight like your mother?” said Lardan.
“Well, I can do this,” Aidan called black flames to his one hand while his other hand seemed to have sparks jumping from his fingers to his palm.
“Not bad.” Though Lardan said it calmly his face betrayed his surprise. “Is that all in your collection?”
“I know you’re testing me.” Said the boy with a frown. “Mother has to fight tooth and claw to enter the Royal Guard, but you think I can get in if I pass your tests.”
“I knew it!” Lardan slapped his thigh and pointed to Sash. “You have been hiding your abilities since you were three!”
“If you knew, then why didn’t you send me to a Truth Seeker school.” Said Sash blushing.
“Because when you told me you wanted to be a doctor, I cried for a month trying to think of how I was going to lie about your abilities on your entry form.” Lardan grinned. “Aidan picked that ability up from you because he hasn’t been around anyone else. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Brilliant. Gifted, like his mother.”
“Can we get back to what you were planning?” said Pura, who was sitting with his back against the wall looking pale and tired.
Aidan hadn’t even seen him there until that point and suddenly felt incredibly nervous. Lardan noticed it immediately and turned back to him. “You are right Aidan. My mother asked me to come to see you to gauge your ability. It is true that we wanted your mother to think about the possibility of joining the Guard, but at her age, it is rather difficult but you, you are the perfect age.”
“I am?”
“He is?” Sash looked at her father in confusion.
“The next entry to Royal Guard is in about a year and a half. He will be eight, which is the youngest cut-off for the age group. Give him a year to learn the language and culture, and he’ll fit right in.”
“You should probably ask the boy what he thinks as his guardian is hardly in a condition to give you an answer of what she wants.” Said Doran. “And if I understand correctly, it is the father that chooses the school for his youngster. Shouldn’t we be talking to Astec about this?”
Lardan frowned and said. “I was under the impression human guardianship worked differently from those of the Saith. If you want me to talk to the boy’s father, I will do so personally.”
“He doesn’t care about me.” Said Aidan.
“Hey now, that’s not true.” Said Doran gently as he put a hand on Aidan’s head. “You didn’t exactly have much time with him, and there was a lot of stress with the new baby. You should give him another chance to get to know you better before you say things like that.”
“I can go talk to your father if you like. I’ll have to talk to your mother too. This was just a preliminary introduction.” Lardan got to his feet. “I’d also like to see your education transcripts of what you have been taught so far as well as putting you through some tests, but I’d go out on a limb to say you are pretty much a shoo-in.”
“Dad he’s human.” Said Sash. “The school…”
“Let me deal with old sourpuss Baks.” Lardan grinned. “Another red-haired child through that place would do it good.”
The General smiled at Lardan. “Do you like to brawl, little man?”
Aidan remembered the times that he truly bonded with his mother. They were either exercising or she was trying to teach him what she knew. Back then he had thought that she was trying to bore him, but the more he thought about it the more he realised that it was her way of trying to get him know better. He closed his hands and looked up at Lardan with a grin. “I do!”
Aidan is in good hands right now, but what will occur when his mother eventually awakens? I guess you'll all need to hang on until Friday to see what happens next.
For those of you who have never heard of Fell Dragon you can find Book 1 here, Book 2 here and the start of Book 3 here. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I love discussing my books!
As the series continues, it will combine with another book series I wrote. To avoid confusion about what is happening, introductory chapters will be introduced separately so that you don't have to be lost. However, these chapters will contain spoilers. You can find these chapters here:
Races Explained
Banishment
Royal Guard
Saasha’s Direct Family
Saith Characters Recap
Human Characters Recap
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Haven't read the other parts yet? Follow these handy links:
Part 12>>You are Here>>Part 14
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