Day 3

Jessica Wildness was battling to sleep despite how tired she was. She didn’t feel safe in the barracks, and she couldn’t explain it. As the sun crept up so did she. Sneaking out of the room.

At night there was a rotation of guards. But in general, it was quiet and empty as everyone slept. She followed the stone stairs down to a dark, musty smelling place.

Being a detective, she liked to know things that where none of her business. And she couldn’t leave well enough alone. She ventured through the rooms on this unexplored level of the barracks. Almost everywhere was dirty and unkempt. But the one bookshelf looked clean and used. She began to look at the books. They didn’t look read. She tried to move the bookshelf but couldn’t.

She heard footsteps. So, she hid and saw a woman dressed in rags coming to the bookshelf. She pulled a lever and the bookshelf rotated. She disappeared into the darkness.

Jessica quickly followed hoping not to get caught. It was very dark and the faint light from the rising sun was not enough. She edged her way along and then fell. The floor was no more, she landed on a stone floor below.

Her body ached! She wondered if she had broken something. Slowly lifting herself up, she saw iron bar cages. As she moved closer, she saw there where people in them. Thin and dying, it looked like they hadn’t been feed for a long time.

An old man coughed, and mumbled something.

‘Who are these people? Why are they so thin? Why are they in cages?’ she asked herself

She tried to free them but the cages where locked. Then she heard something. She tried to find somewhere to hide. People talking entered the room. They were coming her way. She squashed her body into a corner, waiting expecting to be discovered. She peaked out to see a woman dressed in rags and Harnacus.

As soon as it was safe, she wanted to get back to the main part of the Barracks and let Shane know what was going on. They needed to leave before they joined the ranks of the dying.

When they moved on and she was not discovered, she followed the voices into the darkness.

Once again, she couldn’t see anything. This time she was more focused on her feet and not paying attention to the walls. She fell to the side as the wall disappeared.

“Ahmmmmmmmm” she groaned rubbing her elbow.

She was in a room with beautiful stones. A small window let light in. There were stacks of chests with pearls, emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and moon stones. She took small ones and put them in her pockets. She peered out of the window. There was nothing, just sky, and below were cliffs with rocks.

‘I’m trapped here,’ she thought. ‘In this barracks’

Maybe she could get one of the Dragon riders to take her to the ground and then she could run away…… try to run away… her plans didn’t seem to be good ones.

‘How do you run away from a dragon?’ She asked herself

Pockets filled with stolen jewels she started walking up the stairs. It got very dark as she went around a bent.

In the darkness her pocket filled with stones was lighting up, as if there was a torch on inside her pocket. The moon stone was shining. It was bright and lit up her path.

‘This is going to be a bit obvious,’ she thought,

But as soon as the sun light touched it. It stopped shining.

The stairs kept going up and finally she was on the roof. A part she’d never seen before. She took pictures. Realizing that no one would believe her, she would believe her.

She quietly walked until she found something that looked familiar. Then she bumped into a slave woman on purpose. Who hurriedly and worriedly took her to her room.

Shane West was awake,

“Where have you been?” he asked.

“It’s a long story” she began.

“What happened to your face?” Shane asked, looking at the bruising.

“I fell.” She said quickly,

“It really wasn’t that bad.”

“Did your date do this?” he asked.

“No!” Jessica replied looking out the door before losing it.

She began,

“I followed a woman into a secret passageway and I fell through the floor and there were these people locked in cages. They looked like they hadn’t eaten for a long time. They were dying, sick and dying. Then a slave woman and Harnacus came into the room. So, I hid. I couldn’t unlock the cages. So, I tried to get out of there and fell through a wall into a treasure room filled with beautiful stones. Looking out the window I realized we are trapped in this Barracks. The only way in or out is on those flying beasts. So, I took some of the stones from the treasure room and used one for light.”

She showed him all the stones she had taken and the moon stone.

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She continued

“I used this moon stone to see my way back. It shines when it’s not in the sun. We need to leave as soon as possible.” She hastily said.

“Wow that’s quite the story.” Shane said not sure what to believe.

“I will ask about the people in cages.”

“NO!” Jessica interrupted,

“Then we could end up there. Make sure we are free to go from here please.”

A servant girl opened the door and brought in a bucket of hot water with a stone in the bottom. Then she left.

“Let’s clean you up a little” Shane said

Seeing she was serious and really wanted off this rock.

“I know this isn’t a good time. But when it comes to things like this there never is a good time. So, my father and your intent to frame him for murder?”

“Frame him?” Jessica interjected,

“I just planned to bug his home and then turn the recording over to the police anonymously.”

“So illegally bugging my father’s home?” Shane inquired.

“Drop the case against my father.” Shane said flatly.

“Why are you trying to cover for him? Is justice not more important?” she accused

“Follow your leads but leave my father alone until you have proof and not illegally attained proof” he said doing inverted commas with his fingers while saying proof.

“Just because you have been kind to me doesn’t mean your father can kill people and get away with it.” Jessica said

Trying to be reasonable, Shane cleaned the dirt off of her.

“He’s innocent and you’re wasting time and energy trying to prove his guilt. Look for the real killer.” Shane felt he was being more than reasonable and understanding.

“If we ever get home” Jessica said

“I will have another look at the evidence I have attained and following the leads wherever they take me. Even if that’s back to your father’s door.”

They seemed to have reached an agreeable arrangement. They joined the captain and his son for breakfast. Now that Jessica had told him those horrible things he was looking out for the slaves. Almost trying to tick them off on a metal check list in his mind as he saw them. Wondering if there was a reasonable reason for what Jessica saw.

“Captain” Shane ventured

“May Jess, and I go to the ground to collect herbs to make medicine?”

“You may go. But Jessica must remain here for her own protection.” Captain Magofilies said.

“Very well. May I have someone else assist me?” Shane asked.

The captain looked around and then he spotted a young, eager to please dragon rider.

The boy’s parents had been killed by the queen and revenge filled him. He wanted to destroy the queen. He obeyed every order in the hopes of becoming a warrior for his people and one day leading them to freedom. The lad was seventeen years old with a new name of Marquez. The boy was given a new name upon becoming a dragon rider. His new name would be his only name.

“Marquez” Magofilies called,

“Come here.”

The boy walked over head held high.

“Yes captain” he said doing a strange stomp.

“Please help the physician gather herbs for medicine for the sick.”

Then the captain spoke in the other language that these strange people spoke. The sort of Latin was one of the languages they spoke but not the only one. Also, it was not the home language of the Skiopia tribe.

Shane whispered to Jessica

“I think we are well treated prisoners. Please do not get yourself into trouble while I am gone.”

“Gone?” Jessica inquired

“I am going to get herbs for medicine and see about a way out of here.” He said “Please don’t get into trouble.”

Marquez took Shane to the ground. Shane watched how the boy rode the dragon and which direction he took them. Once on the ground Shane gathered things to make a sleeping remedy. Well, something that might work. He also gathered herbs and other things he thought might be useful. If Jessica was right then they needed a way out.

Jessica tried to stay out of sight. But the clothes she had been wearing over her clothes smelt. She tried to wash them. She joined some of the slaved who were washing clothes. She tried to do as they did.

The red head was spotted by the Barracks general. He was fifty-five years old and he knew only those of royal blood had red hair.

‘Was this the queen?’ he pondered

But when she looked in his direction. He saw she was washing clothes, and she was not wearing royal attire.

‘Could this be a lost royal, the rumored lost heir’ he pondered.

Could one have really slipped through the queen’s executions?

He had served the king. In fact, he was a trusted friend who knew the king’s true plans. The king wouldn’t have a problem if his granddaughter was replaced on the throne. After all he was a good king who loved his people.

Tiffany wasn’t a good queen. She hated her people.

So, he began to think to himself.

General Spade called for Jessica to be brought before him.

She found herself being ushered into a room with an old man standing at a wooden desk.

“Please sit” he said but she didn’t understand.

“Woman I mean you no harm, come sit” he said.

Jessica moved to the desk then she asked for Shane.

When General Spade heard her speak a language unknown to him, he called for whoever had brought her to the barracks.

Magofilies was brought before the barracks commander

“Who is this and why was I not informed of their presence?”

Mag was flustered, he stood as straight as he could

“This woman is Jessica. A widow traveling to her father’s house with her brother. She is from a faraway village and speaks a foreign tongue. Her brother is a physician in training. So, I kept them in hopes of healing some of our sick. They are of no consequence. I am just an old fool tired of our people dying. I saw a possible opportunity. Forgive me for not wanting to bother you. I wanted good news before I presented them before you.”

Mag waited watching the General. The general eyed Jessica. Plans flickered in his eyes.

“Send for her brother. I wish to marry this woman.” General Spade said

Mag wanted to protect. But it would not be wise. He wanted to say.

‘The lady is in a courtship with my son.’

But how could he explain that.

He sent for Shane.

When Shane got back, Mag told him what had happened and that the barracks General had decided to marry Jessica.

Shane thinking on his feet asked what the marriage customs where?

Mag explained while walking.

A man must go to a lady’s father and ask for his daughter. The father can say yes or no. Then a gift must be given to the woman as a sign of their betrothal. A woman cannot break it off with a man. Only a man can end the betrothal. But a woman could ask for anything as a gift.

When Shane got to the Generals office.

Jessica was wearing a beautiful clean dress made of blue.

“Have a seat” General Spade said to Shane.

Shane sat.

Mag stood outside the door.

“I believe you are traveling to your father’s house with your sister?” he began,

“I am an old man who needs not to polish his words or intentions. So, I will marry your sister. I require her to learn to speak our language”

“General” Shane said standing up,

“If you wish to marry my sister you must give us safe passage to our father’s house where you may ask for her as is our custom.”

The General eyed him,

“Where is your wife?” he asked,

“She passed six moons ago from illness” Shane said hoping it was believable.

“And your sister’s husband, what happened to him?” he asked as if seeking a loophole

“He perished in the woods. It was a terrible accident.” Shane said,

Thinking hunting accidents are common.

“What got him?” General Spade asked

“A beast” Shane replied.

The general sighed,

“I will not let Jessica leave. You can go to your father’s house and bring your father here for the celebration.”

“General” Shane objected

“This is not honorable”

“Honor…..” the General began

“That is something these lands have forgotten. Why make it harder than it needs to be. I will marry your sister. Whether you are alive to see it or not, is your choice. Now make your peace with it and prepare your sister for her new life.” The general said.

“Then do not dishonor my sister and deny her the betrothal gift.” Shane said.

Jessica was worried as she watched them talking. Shane seemed distressed. Finally, he said to her.

“You have to learn the language as soon as possible. This man has decided to marry you.”

“What! No! Do something.” Jessica protested,

“He is willing to kill me and our ‘father’ to have you. He will give you the betrothal gift. Ask for a dragon. Then we can escape before the wedding.”

“I am trusting you Shane. Tell him I want a tame dragon”

So, Shane relayed her request.

“My sister asks for a tame dragon as her betrothal gift. I shall stay here with her to help her learn and prepare.”

“A dragon?” the general smiled,

“She shall have her own dragon. You may both go.”

They stood up to leave,

“Good choice you made” General Spade said to Shane.

“Magofilies,” the general called,

“She wants a tame dragon as her betrothal gift. Make sure she gets a fine beast. Prepare for a union. I am taking a wife”

The barracks buzzed with the news. Some were happy, some surprised, some saddened.

But who could go against the general? After all he was the general and a seasoned warrior.

Mag had an idea that might delay the union by a few days. He sent word to the prince of their people inviting him to the barracks for important news. Mag hoped that Shane would have found a cure so when the prince arrived the important news would have nothing to do with the forced union.

The prince was a man of honor he believed one day they would be returned to their former glory. Mag counted on the prince’s honor to save them.

However, the barracks had not received much help from the royals and they often faced the attacks from the queen alone as they were the first stronghold in the mountains. There were charged with protecting the villages around the mountain. Sometimes they were victorious but often they were defeated bring more refugees into a barracks that couldn’t support the numbers.