Dragon of the Desert
by Bernadette Remington
La Vernia High School
Bernadette Remington is a teen writer working under a pseudonym to write books by a teen for teens. She is working to get her first book, Daughter of Fallen Kingdom which will be the first of The Princess of Flame series. Dragon of the Desert follows the plot of this story.
Part One: Into the Den
The youngest Prince of Cimmeria was my best friend. Valerius, known only as Val to me, was a ruthless incredible boy. Since we were sixteen, we had become as thick as thieves, sharing a mutual distaste for dragons, something Val’s brother, Eravan, couldn’t comprehend. But I could.
Two years before I had fled to Cimmeria from Elysium Cove, my sister, Sara, had been killed by the claws of the Dragon Prince Finral. It certainly hadn’t helped the flames of my wrath when I found out that not only had he eaten her, but had toyed with her in her final moments. Hearing his words as he slithered over the charred remains of my old home…
Oh, little warrior boy, the Prince had hissed, as he had woven through the debris. You smell of a meal I had. What was her name…? Sara. no? The screams she made were such a lovely melody for my meal… She even got to taste how delicious her young flesh was. What sounds will you make when I devour you?
I still heard that malicious hiss when I slept, and could hear my sister’s screams of anguish. That had driven me to the point of fleeing to Cimmeria and enlisting in the military so I would never be helpless again. It was then I met Val. The Prince was exceptionally talented in swordplay and combat and taught me everything I know. Without his definitely unbiased opinion, I rose up the ranks quickly. Currently, at age twenty, I held the rank of captain.
Again, at this age, Val and I were flying back out to my hometown, Elysium Cove. Many parts of the town were charred, leaving jagged black scars across the landscape. Clearly, Finral had not stopped at me and Sara. Our mounts, a pair of chamrosh, sniffed and whimpered at the burnt smells. The chamrosh were built like a wolf, but had large elegant wings like an eagle. These two, both fully grown, were slightly bigger than horses.
“This is horrible,” Val muttered, surveying the city with the same intensity I had. “I have no clue how my brother sees these things as intelligent. Look at this. This is just barbaric.”
“Indeed. The Prince is known for his particularly sadistic nature,” I said calmly, belying the absolute surge of fear that was washing over me as I spoke. Thunder boomed above us with the promise of a storm.
“Awful. And he’s the one who killed your sister?”
“Yes.” I grimaced. “He bragged about it too. It’s for the best that he’s dead.”
Val nodded. “Understandable.”
Lightning cracked overhead. The chamrosh yipped nervously. I stroked my mount’s neck to calm her. “We need to hurry. We don’t need to be caught in this.”
As if sensing my anger for Finral, and wanting to protect him from my wrath, the sky tore open, pouring rain on us.
“Great,” Val muttered. “Well, let’s make this quick, yes?”
I nod, leading my mount towards the edge of the cliff. The Dragon’s Keep loomed over the Sea, a dark and foreboding beacon. Darker figures circled it ominously like the sky sharks they were. Dragons. I swallowed as our chamrosh flew undetected into one of the tunnels of the Keep. The sudden heat was jarring. Our flight leathers were warm and dry in an instant, crusted over with salt.
As our chamrosh flew away, Val led us into the tunnels. I pause, hearing the sound of a social gathering somewhere within them. I grab Val’s shoulder and jerk my chin in the direction of the sound. We followed the tunnel and I paused, looking down, down, down into the sudden cavity that opened beneath me. Tons of the scaly beasts were gathered up in this tunnel. Perhaps I should have invested in a bomb… not like it would mess up a dragon’s diamond hard scales. But with this strange human-like appearance… Would those scales protect them completely?
I scan over the crowd, blatantly ignoring the red and blue figures on the thrones. Strange how similar dragons and humans were. While the Queen, Saphira, was indeed stunning in this odd human form, she was not the one I was looking for. I continued searching the crowd until at last, my eyes landed on him. Finral.
His maroon scales had initially been hard to spot, but finding him lounging on a pile of gold with various females trying to catch his attention was impossible to ignore once he spotted. Blood stained those crude lips, curved up in a lazy smirk. I blanched internally as I watched him tear a bite out of a – yes, that was a human arm.
What sounds will you make when I devour you?
I pushed down on the surge of panic felt. Anger. That’s what I needed. “That’s him,” I whispered to Val. “That’s the bastard that killed my sister. We’ll hide in their rooms and kill them tonight.”
Val nodded. “How will we be able to tell which cave belongs to them?”
“I’d presume it’s the really big one with a pile of gold,” I replied, shooting him a dark grin.
“Alright then,” Val replied, his eyes gleaming malevolently. “You handle the Prince, and I’ll handle the King.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dragon Prince’s cave was unsurprisingly loaded with gems and gold. Blood was stained on some of them. The creature was utterly disgusting. I felt a surge of dread wash through me as I waited for him. Had Sara been tortured in here? What if Finral brought a female with him? I knew he was unmated, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t sleep with anyone.
Suddenly, the scrape of talons and scales entered the cave. I held my breath, watching the dark red scales pass me by. He was huge. Enormous. And utterly terrifying. He curled up in his pile of filthy riches, puffing steam and smoke with contentment. His lazy maroon gaze drifted aimlessly across the room.
“I know you’re there,” he rumbled, making my stomach fly to my throat. “Why don’t you come out and play?”
“You’re twisted,” I whispered.
“What was that? Speak up, boy, I can’t hear your muttering and mumbling.” Finral raised his neck, puffing out more steam as if he were a furnace.
“I said you’re twisted,” I spoke up. “You’re a horrible, barbaric creature, and use the suffering of others to your own twisted delight.”
“And your precious Prince, Valerius, he’s no different?” Finral asked, his sword-tipped tail swishing lazily.
I bristled. “Val isn’t the one we’re discussing.”
“Mmm,” he rumbled, lowering his large head to look me in the eye. His maroon depths were devoid, dark pools of malice. “Then why is it you’re here, boy? To insult my grand life?” He chuffed steam at me, blowing the hair from my face. His breath reeked of smoke. “Or perhaps to avenge dear, little Sara?”
“I am here to kill you,” I confirm.
Finral chuckled darkly. “Good luck with that, boy.”
I drew my sword. “On behalf of Cimmeria and Elysium Cove, I will end your life and avenge those who fell to your sadistic whims.”
“And?” he yawned.
“You…You seriously aren’t going to fight back?” I ask incredulously.
His tail swished. “I suppose I could. It wouldn’t be fair to you though. I could break your spine and crack open your skull just by hitting you with my tail. Not to mention I could easily eviscerate you with that or my claws. Shall I continue?” He asked, resting his head on his great talons.
“I think you should stop,” I said tersely, gritting my teeth. “You disgust me.”
“So you’ve said,” he replied languidly. I scowled, stomping up to him and raising my sword.
“I’m going to kill you now.”
“Alright.”
His nonchalance was starting to get on my nerves. I brought down the sword, going straight for eyes when suddenly– shnnng!
A flash of blinding red light. A surge of agony shot up from my arm where I’d held the sword causing a scream to tear through my throat. The pain was agonizing, and I couldn’t see anything. It felt like fire was consuming me from the inside out. Somewhere amidst the pain, I could hear a familiar voice.
“Isaiah!”
“It hurts!” is all I can say, my voice shrill with pain.
The rest of what I could remember is a blur. I woke up in the castle infirmary a few days later. My whole arm was wrapped in bandages. The head nurse of the castle, Tomoki, was in the room.
“You’re awake,” she said, turning in her chair to look at me. “Welcome back, dragonslayer.”
Part Two: The Rise of the General
Stupid fool. How did you even do this? The Prince muttered in my head.
“The hell… You’re supposed to be dead. I killed you,” I mutter.
Yet I’m not.
“You don’t say, asshole. How are you in my head?” I snap.
I’m not just in your head, boy. I am you.
“Impossible,” I growl, looking down at my now marked arm. “How is that even possible?”
It’s funny, really.
“Not really. Explain.” I demanded.
You bonded me, Finral said smugly. So not only do you retain your form, but I now live in your mind. Isn’t that great?
“Not at all,” I spat.
Oh, but it is. Cause I can control you, but you can’t control me. You know what that means?
Dread dug its claws in me. “What?”
War crimes! he said gleefully.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter.
I kid you not. I’m going to absolutely VIOLATE your reputation.
“Why must you insist on making everyone’s life miserable?” I scowled.
It brings me immense glee to terrorize you specifically, because you can’t run away and you certainly can’t escape me. I’m everything you’re going to become and more. With me in the picture, we’ll be unstoppable.
“Who’s we? Happen to have a flea in your ear?” I ask bitterly.
The Prince snorted. No. Whether you like it or not, you’re mine now. My puppet. My capsule. My host. Whatever you want to call it.
“How do I get rid of you?” I demanded.
You don’t! he said cheerfully.
“By the Fates, this is beyond awful,” I sighed, running a hand through my hair.
Maybe a little bit. I mean, you’re going to start acquiring some of my features and powers, so it’s going to be epic. Just imagine the legends that will be told of the blood haired warrior.
“Who’s gone particularly insane because of a snotty Dragon Prince living in my body,” I said flatly.
Believe me, it’ll all be fine.
“Hey, Isaiah, are you ready for patrol?” Val’s voice echoed outside my room.
“One moment,” a voice that was not my own replied.
“Who were you talking to in there?” he asked.
“Just myself,” the foreign voice responded. “Nothing special.”
How was this happening? Who was controlling me?
I think it’s pretty obvious, little warrior. Now sit back, and let me do the work.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What does one do in the case that a psychotic Dragon Prince is controlling your body? Here’s the problem. There’s nothing you can do except sit back and watch helplessly, unable to do anything or stop yourself from whatever atrocities you committed.
Due to Finral’s sadistic tendencies in battle, I was sent out to the Sanguine Wastes to serve. No one came back from the Wastes. It was the equivalent of a death sentence. But to Finral, it was an opportunity to make us even more of a monster. I’d convinced him into only hunting down criminals so he could potentially win back the King’s favor.
It was three years of roaming the Wastes, when I’d finally submitted to Finral’s insanity that we learned that Eravan and the King had died.
How disappointingly tragic, Finral mused that evening over a glass of wine. Esidor was a just ruler. I wish I could say the same of the current holder of the throne.
Hey, hey, show some respect. Val is now King. The thought stirred a sense of pride in me despite the tragedy that preceded it. With him on the throne now, we could easily be pardoned and returned to Cimmeria.
I don’t know. I’ve grown rather comfortable here in the desert, he replied lazily.
Your entire Kingdom is likely dead and all you’re doing is lurking in the Wastes like a wraith? I asked, slightly flabbergasted. Did this man care about anyone?
Whatever you want to believe about that, go ahead, but I assure you I am not the last of my kind, he replied bluntly, taking another sip of wine and scouring over a map. Any idea where we’d find the City of Sand? I want to say the Silent Sands, but those pesky sand serpents have made it impossible to get within forty yards of the border.
I don’t know, I admit. You might be right about the Silent Sands, but they’re called that because they are supposed to stay silent. The serpents and other creatures ensure that it stays that way. You’d have to view the top of it, searching overhead to find the City if it is in there.
Hm, he considered. The City is well known, but no one knows how to get there. Air travel would be easy to notice. I doubt there’s any tunnels. I can’t exactly go flying above the Sands to see if it’s there, considering my kind is extinct here…
To add to that, a serpent might drag you out of the air, I point out.
True…
Three days later, the summoning letter of the castle came in. We were led back into the castle after a long, painfully quiet ride with a chamrosh riding messenger, and Finral was already distraught when we reached Cimmeria.
I forgot how disgustingly humid it is here. Do you think my hair is messy? he asked wryly.
In the three years we’d spent in the Wastes, my hair had transformed from a short, brown cut to long, wine red locks. Finral liked to keep it pulled back, whether it was a ponytail or a braid. I couldn’t deny he was right when he said was going to look badass.
I’m sure it’s fine, I reply. Just please, don’t antagonize Val. He’s our best chance at holding onto some power. Naturally, that had been the motivation to keep Finral from acting irrationally around my bestfriend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three days later, the chamrosh and its rider graciously landed us in the courtyard of the castle before souring off with a blatant huff of distaste.
Illiterate fleabag, Finral said flatly.
What did I do? I demanded.
Not you, that stupid furball that flew us here. I could have easily gotten us here, but noooooo, we have to ride that…thing.
Ah yes, so they can shoot us down on sight, I said drily.
Shut up so I can talk to your boyfriend or whatever, Finral said curtly. Oh right. We were in the throne room now.
He is not my boyfriend, but whatever.
Finral snorted softly mentally before speaking. “Hello, my King.”
“Isaiah,” Val said warmly, earning surprised looks from some of the court. That High Mage girl sat timidly in the corner, her brown eyes focused on me timidly. I couldn't blame her.
“I heard about your father and brother. I'm deeply sorry for your losses,” he said, placing a hand over his heart. Everyone but me was fooled by Finral’s brilliant act.
“I appreciate that.” The new King tilted his head, making the crown tip slightly. “You are no longer the same man you were when you went to the Wastes.”
“No, Your Majesty. I am a whole new man.” He wasn't wrong. “The Wastes reshaped me.”
“I can see that,” Val said, his gaze raking over me. Finral seemed unbothered while I silently pleaded Val to notice it wasn't me. Unfortunately, he couldn't see through Finral’s new face for me. No one could. “I'd be honored to have you return to my ranks.”
“The honor is mine.” Finral grinned. Twisted dread pulled me into her embrace. Val may nor be the same man I knew. It's been three years. What if he's just as bad as Finral?
“Excellent. Court, you are all dismissed. Return to your stations.” Val waved away the court with a dismissive hand. Everyone filed out of the room, leaving us alone.
Valerius looked down at me. “Isaiah. We've heard rumors that there's been a man that's running amok in the Wastes killing dangerous criminals before they make it to the City of Sand. His hair is the color of the blood he sheds. They call him the Dragon of the Desert. Is that you?”
Finral’s answering smirk was nothing short of sadistic. “Indeed it is, my King.”
Val’s twisted grin made all hope I had left dicipitated. “Fitting for a dragonslayer.”
“I've been called by his name, Finral,” the Dragon Prince said, testing the waters. “I find it fitting, as I too have taken an enjoyment in killing criminals.”
“I see. So it's General Finral now?” Valerius asked.
“Yes.”
“Excellent. I must catch you up on all you've missed.” Val beckoned to an empty chair beside him and Finral casually accepted it.
“Do tell.”
“My father married me off to Princess Aryana to forge an alliance with Amsamel so they wouldn't attack us for the Dragon Purge. She's too spineless to rule as my Queen, so she retains her Princess title. She's given birth to my son, Orion. The poor boy is a halfblood.”
Rage shot through Finral, surprising me. Oh right, the dragons were fond of the Folk. “I see,” Finral replied, his calm tone belying the rage he felt. How peculiar. “So he's your sole heir?”
“Yes,” Val said drily. “I'd dispose of him, but that would bring too many questions. Perhaps if I keep him away from magic, he won't be…disgraceful.”
Finral’s growl of outrage tore through our shared mind, but he remained utterly composed. “Ah.”
Val nodded. “How was the Wastes?”
“Not bad,” Finral replied. “Far less humid there. I was hunting for the City of Sands, but that might just be a speculated myth.”
“How are you so certain?” he questioned.
“After exploring every inch of the Wastes, save for the Silent Sands, I concluded that the Sands must be where the city was. However, traveling to the City would be impossible with the sand serpents that lurk there. Both flight and foot would be impossible to get there.”
“I see.”
“How was the Purge?” Finral asked.
“Ongoing,” Val replied. “We’ve gotten the majority of them. The Queen is still a huge target but is pretty evasive. We believe she has an unhatched heir, but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. We executed one of the Princesses, Amethyst, and believe Xyrona to be dead as well. We’re leading a final wave against them in two days to end this once and for all.”
A wide variety of emotions went through Finral at his explanation. Relief, surprise, horror, anger and shock. He did care about someone after all. Even if that someone was thoroughly screwed.
“I see,” Finral replied after a moment. “I would like to go after the Queen myself.”
“Two Dragon Royals?” Val teased. “You’re on a roll now, aren’t you?”
Finral forced a smile. “Indeed.”
Are you alright? This is your mother…
I’m fine.
His response was surprisingly curt, with a hint of fear. I didn’t believe his words one bit, but didn’t argue with him. I knew how painful it was to be told your sister was killed. Ironic, since Finral had killed Sara.
“Excellent. There’s that ruthlessness I had missed so much. Anyways, you’re going to need to reacquaint yourself with the military, so I’ll send you off to do just that. Welcome back, brother.”
“Glad to be back.”
Despite Finral’s grin, we both knew it wasn’t true.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Val had definitely improved the military of Cimmeria by a lot. Some of the new weapons made even Finral blanch a bit. This made me realize just how serious Val was about eliminating the dragons. And how soft I’d gotten towards the beasts since bonding Finral.
That High Mage girl, Morgan, is going to try to escape tonight. Finral informed me as the ship sailed towards the Keep. It felt like a lifetime since I’d last been here. She’s taking the King’s wife with her too.
And you’re not stopping them? I questioned.
Of course not. Have you seen the way he treats her? It made me positively sick to my stomach. And the High Mage? She has a more important task ahead of her, he explained, staring down at the horizon.
Oh. What would that be? I asked, now actually curious.
You know how Valerius said he believed there was an unhatched heir?
Yes, why?
There is. Her egg was laid about a year and a half before you bonded me. Dragon eggs are kept hidden for how precious they are. They hatch after five years.
You’re serious. I was a bit shocked. That’s why you were afraid, wasn’t it?
Despite not caring for your pathetic human relationships with family, I do care about mine. Azaraiya is due to hatch on the twin blue moons.
Azaraiya. The mythical, legendary princess of flame. I blatantly ignored his jab.
Congratulations I guess?
Thanks, he said gruffly. And I was not going to kill my mother. I was going to ensure that she can get my sister to the High Mage and Princess.
Oh. That actually makes a lot of sense but it is still surprising, coming from you.
Part Three: Dragonslayer
The sun beating down on us contrasted to the memories that swarmed me. Finral was unusually quiet as well. The Keep loomed over us, eerily quiet. Even at night, years ago, it hadn’t been this quiet.
“This is ominous,” Finral remarked.
“It seems that way, but the silence is a good thing. It means that there are fewer dragons in there,” Valerius replied.
“Got you.”
“You’re awfully quiet,” Valerius observed.
“Just some strong deja vu,” Finral replied simply. “Last time we were here…”
Val nodded, trying and failing to not glance at the dark mark on my bare arm. How had it not been questioned? How is it no one knew Finral and I were one?
“The doctor in Elysium Cove said you bore the mark of someone who killed a dragon child,” Val commented. Finral snorted rebelliously, a sound only I could hear.
“Oh?” he asked.
Val nodded. “There have been various other dragonslayers, but none bear the mark you do.”
A surge of panic rose within me. “Perhaps because I killed the Prince?” Finral lied.
“Maybe,” The King mused. “But we also killed the Princess. None of the executors have that mark.”
“Maybe it only applies if you killed one single handedly,” he offered.
Val shrugged. “Don’t know. Frankly, I don’t care. It’s fitting.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It marks you as one of the original dragonslayers.”
I could feel Finral trying not to roll his eyes. This is your best friend? he asked incredulously.
Was, I replied absently. I… I can’t see him in the same way I used to. Not after being stuck with you for so long.
I see, Finral observed. You’ve gotten soft. You’re a sympathizer.
That sounds like a slur.
In your King’s eyes, it might as well be.
That hurt more than it should have. I stayed silent as everyone invaded the Keep.
Where are we going? I ask after a long moment.
To find my mother, he replied. I have to ensure she can get Azaraiya out.
Finral?
Yes?
You might still be an arrogant bastard, but I forgive you.
His surprise was palpable. I killed your sister and bragged about it to your face.
I know, and that’s not exactly ok, but I’m forgiving you because I can see how much you care about your own family.
Finral didn’t say a word as we burst into a large cavern where an impossibly huge dark blue dragon sat, huffing smoke. Barely visible in the coils of her tail was an egg.
“Mother,” he called up to her. The Queen lowered her head down to gaze into his eyes, her own sky blue.
“Finral,” she rumbled. “Where have you been and what is the meaning of this?”
“No time to explain, but you need to leave the Keep now. Valerius and his troops are laying siege to us now,” he explained in a rush.
“You are no longer worthy of being called my son,” she growled. “I only listen for the safety of Azaraiya.”
Finral flinched visibly and I felt a stab of pity for him. “Morgan and Princess Aryana have fled Cimmeria. I’m certain they’d be willing to raise her. She can avenge us where I have failed.”
The Queen chuffed softly, the hot breeze fanning over us. “Fine. I know she will.”
With that, the Queen turned and slithered out of the cave, the egg snuggly wrapped in her tail. Finral zipped down the tunnel, moving at an alarming pace. He halted as we reached one of the holes that allowed air into the Keep.
The Queen shot by, sending a boom echoing as she burst the sound barrier.
“Fire!” Valerius’ voice bellowed somewhere down below. Bang! The Queen’s wingbeats stuttered before she corrected herself at a lopsided glide towards the continent.
What now? I ask nervously.
Now we wait for Azaraiya to save us all.
Interview with the Author
1. What inspired you to write this piece? What was your thought process throughout?
I took inspiration for the short story Dragon of the Desert from one of the major pieces I'm writing (Daughter of the Fallen Kingdom). It's following the story of the dragonslayer who helped start the events of the story.
2. What do you hope readers will take away from your piece? What effects do you want the piece to have on the person, community, or society?
I want readers, if they choose to read Daughter of the Fallen Kingdom when it comes out, to have a deeper understanding of the character Isaiah Finral, and know what events led up to the plot of the original story.
3. What is your favorite piece of fiction (short story, novel, flash fiction, etc.) that you’ve ever read? Why?
This is possibly the hardest question I've ever been asked as I love so many pieces of literature. I have my top three however, being Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sara J. Maas, and Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland.
4. If you plan on continuing to write, what are some goals/plans you may have for your future?
I plan to create intricate storylines out of my daydreams to make use of the creativity I was blessed with.