Activity

@jasmine

Don’t worry about it! I get confused myself! 😉

@joelle-stone

You’re fine! I think we’re all darting around like Ehud! 😀

@this-is-not-an-alien

*Laughs nervously* Oh man, Rosario pushed Kiark’s “explode” button like five times, lol! 😛 Please don’t take any offence from his rant; he had it coming to him at some point, ha ha. He’s just not used to people talking to him in that way and he’s very vain. 😀 And you’re totally right about the dragons not being beasts, but he’s very proud and doesn’t want to admit it.

@rose-colored-fancy

You’re doing great!! This mirror idea is perfect, and *face-palm* you don’t have any of our character outlines, so you really are getting to know them on the fly! My character, Kiarkus Reni, is a prince and the Heir of Banerow. He’s vain, regal, and a wise-cracker. Things that you notice right away about him are as follows: he wears a gold band around his forehead and his sandy hair sticks up from between it; he has a red cape, and he has dark blue eyes. My other character, Wylo Reni, is Kiark’s uncle, and he is wearing a silver suit, has red-gold hair, and grey eyes and a mustache. I actually picture him looking a bit like Orville Wright; and yes, I am weird. 😛 I hope that helps a bit!

***

WYLO

I had drawn myself into a corner, and although it made me vulnerable, I didn’t care. I took out my pipe and lit it, the sweet scent filling my nostrils and filling my senses. Might as well make myself comfortable; I could be here a long time.

I didn’t hear any conversation from the others because I blocked myself out to it. I didn’t want anything to do with them, I couldn’t face people; even those who weren’t Baneronians. I hung my head and blew hard on the pipe, then gingerly reached inside of my coat. I pulled out my work of art, the one thing that had actually gone right in my life, and fingered it lovingly.

It was made with light, smooth wood and gilded with gold swirls, so polished that I could see my reflection in it. It fit into my hand like I was born clutching it, so well had I molded it. Only one shot could it fire, but it was quick and easy to reload. I had yet to find a way to make it shoot rounds. But I would, soon.

I could kill all the people in this room.

I nearly dropped the vice and my eyes widened.

How could I have such a thought? Where had it even come from? Was my mind this twisted? Was I so far gone as that? Was I that evil?

After all I had done, was I even worth being here?

One shot is all it takes.

For the hundredth time since I crafted it, I restrained myself. No. I have a debt to pay. I must pay it or I am worth nothing.

This vice was only here to protect me, to help me.

Or had I made it for another reason?

I slid to the floor and put my head between my knees. I must stop, but my thoughts race on uncontrollably. Maybe I would never get back and dying would just be a way out. I would never get to pay my debt; I would rot in here.

I would never get to heal my brother.

At that moment I hear my nephew’s voice and look up. He is arguing with the curly-headed girl. What a way to introduce yourself, he needs to learn restraint. He needs to learn.

Then I notice a new girl. She is saying: “Anyone try breaking that? There’s a reasonably close exit for the air behind it.”

She’s pointing to one of the many large mirrors.

I instinctively stand up. A way out. A way out of this God-forsaken den. I tuck my pipe and vice into my coat and stride over. Then, without looking any of them in the eye — I cannot, I cannot — I slide the mirror aside. There is an opening, and it is flooded with light, not darkness. They stare at me like they know my secret, but I ignore them.

And I step inside.

***

KIARKUS

The princess, Liorah, scowls at me, and I just grin. I’m told that I’ve got a boyish grin; a grin like a mischievous troublemaker ready to put a tack on his teacher’s chair. She turns to talk to Ehud, the boy who knows no fear. Then, Liorah glares at me again.

“It’s drafty in here, and a draft means air circulation. Air has to go in, and come out. There can’t be enough air for fourteen people through that little hole. And, since it’s drafty, it’s going out somewhere.”

She gives me a piercing look, and I just grin. I know I’m annoying, but I can’t help myself.

“Does that answer your question, or do I need to explain what air is and why you need it?”

I start to respond, but at that moment Rosario starts speaking to me and I turn around.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Don’t worry your companion I intend to have a word with him. Now, about the dragons. First of all you will not ever again refer to either of the dragons as beasts. They are at least as intelligent as you, possibly more so and if you wish to face their anger you can call them beasts to their faces.

“As for keeping the dragons together I understand your concerns there but that’s just too much power concentrated in one group. I’m much rather place her in a group with either some of more easygoing members or with whichever groups will have either Kami or your friend as members. Now what I need from you is to determine which people are best equip and which people will need more assistance. I can’t afford to have the weakest members grouped into one team. Next I’ll need an assessment of each persons’ strengths and weaknesses. Understood?”

Then she turned away to address another girl, and left me dumbfounded. Who does she think she is?!

The only person who has ever talked down to me like that and gotten away with it was Waynot, and he’s my father after all. But this kid?

I had come over to talk to her, and see what could be done; not to be reprimanded like a child. Who put her in charge anyway? I thought that we leaders had to be approved by the majority! And bossing me around like that?!

It takes all of my limited self-control not to spin her around by her shoulders.

“Missy, I think we need to talk,” I growl darkly. “I didn’t come over here to be bossed around and talked down to. You’re not my superior — and, in fact, I don’t remember anyone putting you in charge in the first place. You can’t order me around, you can’t tell me what to do, what not to say!”

I take a moment to get myself under control and start up again before she can interject. I might be talking too fast for her to understand, but she gets the point all right.

“I can talk how I like, and guess what? Dragons are beasts, and unless you want that she-beast getting too fired up and roasting her charges, she should be kept with her friend! And,” I hiss, “you will not go up to my uncle unless you want a sword through your guts.”

I don’t care that everybody is probably watching and that I’m making a scene. I’m not going to let someone order me about like that. I won’t tolerate it, not at all. NOT AT ALL.

Suddenly, I hear a grating sound and glance over to see Wylo — Wylo?! — slipping into a hole in the wall. For a moment, I forget my fury.

What is going on?