Chapter 21: Assassin

“An Assassin is like a spider they can wait all they want and when the moment is right they strike without warning. A snake does the same thing when hunting prey so it is best to be weary around them at all times,”

Maliaka of the Valkyrie

Radon could not stop screaming in the direction of the transport and it took all of Opal’s strength to hold the dragon down. Aleria and Konoprocs also tried to sooth the dragon, but their tears were blocking their sight as the dragon fought to go after them. “Radon no!” Opal said as she cried through her anguish as well. “Radon don’t please!” she begged

It took several hours to finally calm the dragon down enough where they can secure her. Radon growled low in her throat as fire licked her lips and the authorities that were with the group moved away from the dragon. Opal being as hard headed as the dragon wacked her on the head with her front legs. The dragon screeched as she reared back but not before Opal grabbed her two whiskers and pulled them rather hard earning a whimper from Radon. “Stay!” she commanded and the dragon hissed her replied but rather weakly submitting to Opal by lying down. She gave a mewing cry which is both sad and longing. Opal knew who she was mewling for and gently stroked her side in comfort to reassure the wyvern that Aaron was going to be ok.

They set up camp for the night and while the dragons were asleep they all met around the fire. “I know that following Aaron would be out of your jurisdiction so we should be on our own from here,” said Konoprocs to the two riders of the ice dragons. The first one who spoke was an Orc with rocky grey skin and large bumps and warts to go with it. “I understand and I know the human means a lot to you. It is the first time I have come to see another dragon partnership other then our own species. This Storm Wing is a proud dragon and still has her spirit I give you my thanks for flying alongside her,” he said bowing his head. “Yes, the hunt is good for you three to continue on your quest.” Said the second one who proved to be a cat-like creature similar to the one they saw in Slumptar but this one had a thick grey snowy leopard look to him.

They bowed to him in respect before they rode their dragons back towards the city of Italnolia. Aleria was tired as she went into her tent of furs and sticks. Opal remained with Konoprocs outside of the tent before going in keeping an eye on Radon the whole time.

The sounds of something hitting the ground had awoken Aaron in the brief time he had for relief on the bottom of the transport. “Get him up and out,” said a grizzly voice and someone pulled Aaron out from the unit and dragged him across the ways to another transport. He felt a pair of rather large hands take him and yank him towards the outside. The rush of warm air was all that Aaron needed to know that he was close to the equator. The heat was the first thing that greeted him as he was yanked by the collar that he now wears around his neck towards the nearest opening.

He could tell now that it is the tropic zone that he was taken to. At least that is what he can see in his weak vision. As he look around he found that the place he was kept in was some sort of lab. He could hear someone talking but in the language of Gulak-Araiah. Aaron does not have a clue what they are talking about but he knew it had something to do with him. As he listened in he figured out that he was supposed to be dead. As he laid there trying to find out more about his surroundings.

He found that he could barely move. Just as he let out a moan the doors opened and in came in none other then the one who took him. Aaron sent a glare which was returned. “I have no idea how you could have survived the poison I gave you even with your nanites. In all accounts you should be dead,” he said, Aaron unable to talk remained quite but the glare he gave, gave one simple answer, ‘Go Fuck yourself,’ or ‘Fuck you,’ Aaron was not one to fool around as he groggily flipped him his middle finger. Not used to human gestures he got the gist of Aaron’s statement. “I would not do that if I were you unless you want to loose those fingers.” He said smiling and showing off a strange looking knife. Aaron never let up letting his glare get to him. “At least the poison kept you immobile,” he laughed, “You are lucky I would have decapitated you already but my emperor has other plans for you.” He said sitting down with Aaron unable to move. The assassin laughed as he pushed his prey around like a cat playing with a mouse. Aaron continued to glare at the alien standing above him, and as he watched Aaron was forced to listen to him gloat once more.

“Sad really the poison must have been delayed because you are a human and not one of the usual targets. But it is slowly killing your system that much I can see as you still can’t move,” the assassin laughed at Aaron’s expense. “Don’t worry my emperor has much in store for you,” he stated. “After I made that report about you having some resistance to the poison my emperor decided to kill you himself. Seeing as he too is suffering from the poison,” he stated. Aaron only struggled to get free of his restraints. He then let the assassin gloat, “To think that a human provides the cure to the poison that is killing our emperor. Only to die afterwards from serving our cause,” the assassin smiled as Aaron glared at him.

Another Gulak-Araiah entered from the door on the far side carrying a syringe full of some sort of liquid. Aaron tried to move but the poison held him steady as it was injected into his system. When it did Aaron struggled even more as he felt blinding pain overcome him and tears began to pour from his eyes. It was excruciating pain and he wish he was able to cry out in alarm.

It was around dawn when the group awoke the other two dragons having carried their passengers are gone. Radon was busy preening as she checked her scales for any coming out and that would produce drag on her. She continued to preen and groom herself and Opal let her seeing as the dragon needs it more then they do. As she preened Opal could see some of the feathers that were part of her down still coming out as well as useless flight feathers that littered her back. Radon also licked some old wounds to ensure that they will heal properly. “Why can’t we set out already,” Aleria said a little impatiently.

Konoprocs skittered up to her, “Patience Radon needs to do this or she will not fly as effectively as we saw. Dragons must preen at least once a day to ensure that they can fly well or else they will fall from the sky in exhaustion because of drag,” Konoprocs said to her. Aleria was silenced, “We need Radon in her peak condition Aleria so we can find Aaron faster,” Opal said putting a leg on her the elf gently held it to her and all three of them watched as Radon preened.

It was not till several hours later that Radon finished and managed to catch a large alien fish from the ice after melting a hole. When she ate she preened again before she was ready to pursue her master. The others quickly gotten on as she took off again towards the sunset. As she headed west by southwest Radon maintained supersonic speed something that no dragon was able to do.

Or at least not all of them.

Some dragons had developed that particular trait as a last minute defensive measure against willow wisps and other predators that feed on smaller dragons. Wyverns are vulnerable to such predators until they reach a certain length. They also used as a courtship ritual showing off high speed aerial displays to appease their potential mates.

This time it is used to find someone dear to the entire group. Racing through the clouds at such high speeds the group kept pace for a good few hours into the night. As they neared an outpost they could see the lights coming from the buildings. Radon flew past it following some hidden scent that the others don’t know at all about but if they knew they will not understand it so well. Radon was following something that only dragons can follow and that alone is what is guiding her at the moment. She pushed on into the night as the wind died down and into the next morning when the wind picked up again. Radon did not stop and the others started to tire but she did not. Pumping her wings she continued to fly being guided by the stars and the wind.

It was not until the forth night of flying that they came upon a costal city far south of Italnolia. The sun was warm and inviting when they finally landed. The hot climate was a giveaway that they have traveled to a semi tropical climate and the plant life also gave it away. Radon settled down after she feasted on a nearby unicorn and settled down to rest. The others were more then happy to let the dragon rest as they made their tents just outside the city. Opal watched from a nearby hill the city lights. “Aaron is down there somewhere and I am not going to stop till I find him,” she stated determined to help a friend that helped her through it all. She will protect him and she will set him free when they returned to earth.

As they watched the only ones that were not Gulak-Araiah were the few servants of the upper class that ran around doing errands for their masters. The others watched as they hurried to do the masters biddings and could not believe that they came from such a life. Now after tasting the sweet fruit of freedom they wanted to keep it that way. Radon in the meantime was preening and resting after flying such a long journey. The others decided to scout around to see what they could find on Aaron’s location. Aleria quickly took the clothes of some of the servants and dressed herself like one and it felt like second nature to her when only a year and a half ago she was nothing more then a slave.

Opal and Konoprocs quickly followed her down into the city and painted fake markings on them to make sure that they are not caught. As they walked into the city they went to everyone but dared not ask questions for that will raise suspicion. Following them to the houses that they dwell in they quickly hid in the bushes and listened into the conversations that took placed. They even went so far as to hack into the computer system to find which of the homes housed the higher ranked Gulak-Araian people. As it turns out there was only one house that was enough to match the description. It was a grand house filled with large architecture totally different then the home of their former master. At least their master had appreciation for nature this one was more into technology and architecture then plants. It was vastly different then their master and as they walked further into the building they became vastly aware that there were eyes watching.

Finally someone stopped them with a halt turning they met the angry gaze of one of the household guards. “Halt what business do you have here?” he demanded. He was a grayish colored Gulak-Araiah with blonde sideburns and a scar running down his face from his left eye. The other servants watched him as he glared at the trio. Konoprocs, Aleria and Opal watched as he turned to the others. “These three are trespassers and should be taken out immediately!” he ordered. Another servant this one a dwarf bowed low before guiding them out of the property.

When they sat outside of the gates it was Opal who broke the silence. “Well that went well,” she said and the others glared at her, “What?” she said not seeing the serious side of things. “Opal we just got thrown out of that house do you have any idea how as Aaron should say, ‘Crappy’ that is?” Aleria said sounding annoyed at the Anansi. “I know it is crappy Aleria but look on the bright side at least we got a good look at the security detail,” Opal said. “She is right Security is tight there so that means that it will be difficult to get in,” Konoprocs said.

“Excuse me but you said that you needed to get in?” said a voice. They all turned to stair down at a rather short looking person. In fact this person was rather sheepish looking especially on her face. “Who are you?” asked Opal suddenly on the defensive. “It is not safe to talk here follow me,” she said and guided them down the street for about ten minutes until they reached a pile of waste that someone dumped. In fact from the looks of it, it appears to be the junk yard of the entire town. The creature beckoned them to follow her to a particular pile before she moved some of the junk away to reveal a hole. “In here it will be safe from the security detail,” she said and they all entered the hole. The little creature looked around and then closed the door. It was dark at first until the lights came on and they began to sink into the ground.

It took them about twenty minutes before they reached a level below ground and the doors opened to reveal a hidden passageway. All three of them followed the small creature, “What are you exactly?” asked Aleria. “I am a gnome,” was the reply. “Oh,” was the response.

They followed the gnome for about another five minutes until they came to another open room and it was here that the gnome turned around. “You are safe here strangers,” she said. “Why are you helping us?” Konoprocs asked, “Because I know why you are here,” she said and walked over to a storage unit and pulled out some bottles of water. Handing them out to them she took a seat on one of the chairs. She looks human except that she is really short and round like a dwarf but even shorter. “Then why are we here?” asked Opal sounding suspicious. “I have received word of your arrival from Italnolia and they said to watch out for three strangers a Kilik, an Elf and an Anansi,” she said the three of them kind of looked down. “They have been tracking us?” asked Aleria, “Actually they were tracking your friend that you have lost a human right?” she said, “Yeah he is our friend,” said Konoprocs. Nodding the gnome introduced her self, “I am Mika and I welcome you to Smelton village,” she said

After some explaining on their part Mika was well receptive to what they are facing. “The one who brought you here and the master of this village is one of the lead assassins to the Gulak-Araian Emperor.” She said

The trio gasped at the sound of her voice when she mentioned his name. “So you are saying that the one who has taken Aaron is none other then Pilikar the slayer?” Aleria said “Yes, he owns this domain and all those who live here are under his rule. He is loyal to the emperor and is awaiting your arrival so if you enter that house you are walking into a trap. So far from what I heard your friend is still alive but barely.