Azareth’s heart was racing as Jurah and her ran through the quiet city towards the dark training fields. Her thoughts raced, she needed to know what they had learned. Jurah slowed down as they reached the top of the hill, Azareth stopping next to him. She looked down and saw Cephie was crotched low letting Artibain rub her nose. Azareth’s stomach felt like it had done a backflip as she took off down the hill. Artibain turned, seeing Azareth and Jurah running towards them. A huge grin broke out across his face, Cephie nudged him with her snout and snorted.

“You’re back!” Azareth cheered, she threw her arms around Artibain’s shoulders and hugged him. Artibain nearly fell backwards, but steady himself. He wrapped his arms around Azareth’s torso and sighed in relief.

“We’re back,” Artibain said. After a moment, he sat Azareth’s feet back on the ground and released her from the hug. He looked at Jurah and stretched out his hand. They gripped each other’s hand, then pulled each other in for a quick hug. Jurah gave Artibain a kind smile after they separated. Azareth stared up at them, shocked for a moment. Then she turned to look at Cephie, walking over to her.

“Welcome back,” Jurah said. He looked over and saw Azareth was running her hands over Cephie’s nose and smiling ear to ear.

“Cephie, I missed you so much,” Azareth said. Cephie tilted her head forward and Azareth smiled, resting her forehead against Cephie’s head.

“I have missed you too,” Cephie’s voice echoed in Azareth’s head.

“What did you learn?” Jurah asked. Azareth was brought back to reality as she turned to look at the men behind her.

“Nothing good I’m afraid,” Artibain said. Azareth looked at him worried, he sighed and sat down on the grass. Jurah and Azareth sat down too, facing Artibain.

“What happened?” Azareth asked him.

“It didn’t take me long to reach the kingdom, maybe a day and half,” Artibain began to explain. “It’s called Asleria and it’s a kingdom of humans. I managed to walk around unbothered or unnoticed by anyone.”

“Who’s in charge?” Azareth asked. Artibain took a deep breath.

“There’s the king, Bledric, no queen. His seven sons help him run things. They have a large army, well trained men. But there’s something else.”

“What else?” Jurah asked.

“Remember the dark magic I told you about?” Artibian asked. Azareth nodded her head and looked worryingly at him. “They still practice it there. That’s why the other dragons haven’t returned.”

“Are they controlling the dragons?” Azareth asked. Artibian shook his head and Cephie leaned closer to Azareth.

“You can’t control a dragon,” Artibain said.

“The human is right,” Cephie told Azareth.

“Then how are they stopping them from leaving?” Jurah asked, confused.

“It’s some kind of tethering spell, it’s as though they’re chained down without actual chains. There is good news though, only a select few members of the guard and the royal family practice this magic. No one else does,” Artibian said.

“Did you learn if there was a traitor in our mix?” Jurah asked Artibain.

“Azareth, you were right. I heard a couple guards mention a ‘dirty dragon guard’. I followed them for a bit, and they mentioned Captain Sansun making a deal.” Artibain watched Azareth carefully. She looked horrified, but took a calming breath.

“The other guards that travel with my father, are they dead?” Azareth asked. Artibain shook his head grimly.

“They’re alive, barely,” Artibain said. Jurah sighed and shook his head. “They’re being held in a huge cage in the center of town, they recognised me and I luckily got the message to them that I’d be back with help.”

“How are we gonna get them back, free the dragons and keep Berlar safe?” Azareth asked. The two men looked at her unsure of what to say. She sighed and turned to Cephie. “I suppose you don’t have any suggestions?”

“I think I need to show you something that could be helpful,” Cephie told Azareth. Azareth stood up, she stared at Cephie confused.

“What is it?”

“An ability I am sure you possess,” Cephie said.

“Az? What’s going on?” Jurah asked. The two men stood up and watched Azareth and Cephie closely. Jurah was always amazed by the intense bond the two had.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Show me,” Azareth said. Cephie opened her mouth and ignited it, small flames gently came out of the sides.

“Feel the warmth,” Cephie said. Azareth stepped closer and let the warmth of the flames wash over her. “Now take the flames in your hands and hold them.” Azareth did as she was told, she gently put her hands in Cephie’s opened mouth and pulled the flames out. She stared at her hands confused, she was holding the flames and controlling them to stay on her palms.

“What the hell?” Artibain said. Azareth turned slowly and looked to see Jurah and Artibain staring at her in shock.

“Controlling dragon fire is a royal gift, but I would like to try something else,” Cephie told Azareth. Azareth let the flames burn out and turned back to Cephie. “Summon the fire back.”

“How?” Azareth asked. She was stunned, how was she just learning she could do these things.

“It’s inside you, that’s why you don’t ever feel cold. That is why you have always felt safest near flames, while others feared them.”

Azareth nodded and focused all her will power into the warmth she felt in her core. She felt the warmth growing and moving towards her arms, down to her hands. When she opened her eyes the fire grew in her palms, the orange glow even stronger than the flames Cephie gave to her.

“What is going on?” Jurah asked, horrified. Azareth closed her hands and then flames vanished. She looked up at Cephie, locking eyes with her.

“How is this possible?” Azareth asked. Cephie didn’t answer, just sat back and looked up at the dark sky.

“You have bigger things to deal with right now, we will talk more tomorrow,” Cephie told Azareth. Azareth knew she was right, but she wanted to know more. Sighing, she turned to Jurah and Artibain. They stared at her frozen, full of confusion.

“Jurah, I need you to go and arrest Captain Sansun. Keep it quiet, we don’t need him making a scene. After he’s contained I want you to take point on a twenty-four hour patrol. Get them in the air, I want to be able to see anyone coming ahead of time.” Azareth stopped when she noticed Jurah and Artibain still just staring at her.

“Hello?!” She shouted. The men snapped out of it and looked over at Azareth. “Jurah, did you hear a word I just said?”

“Uh,” Jurah paused and thought for a moment. “Arrest Captain Sansun, don’t let him make a scene. Twenty-four hour patrol in the air.”

“Good,” Azareth said. “Artibain, do you think you could map out the layout of the kingdom?”

“I could try, it’s a bit of a maze.”

“Do your best, it doesn’t have to be pretty. I just need to know where the dragons and the guards are, so we know how we can get them back.”

“Azareth, what are you planning?” Jurah asked. Azareth shook her head, she looked over at Cephie.

“Nothing yet, but we need to be prepared for anything.”

The morning came too fast. Azareth barely slept after hearing everything Artibain saw and learned on his mission. She was sitting by the fire, staring into the flames. She was trying to wrap her head around what she learned last night. There was so much information to take in. There was a knock on the door, Azareth turned and saw Jurah come in. She smiled weakly and looked back at the fire.

“Az?” Jurah asked, as he walked into the room. He saw Azareth was still in her nightgown. She looked exhausted with dark circles under her eyes and her hair a mess.

“I know, I should be dressed and working,” Azareth said. Jurah chuckled lightly and sat down in the chair next to hers.

“I’m not Midrina, I’m not rushing you,” Jurah said. Azareth laughed and shook her head. “I just want you to know, I arrested Captain Sansun last night. He’s been stewing in a cell for the night, what should we do with him?”

“After breakfast can you and Artibain get some answers from him?” Azareth asked. Jurah looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

“We can question him.”

“If he doesn’t answer willingly, remember fire won’t hurt him,” Azareth said. She stood up and walked over to her wardrobe. Jurah felt his jaw drop for a second, he slowly stood up.

“Azareth, what are you asking?”

“Use force if necessary,” she said. Just then Midrina walked into the room and saw Azareth was standing at the wardrobe.

“Azareth, I understand that he has done-”

“Jurah, we need the information he has. If he won’t give it up on his own, make him.” Azareth turned around with the most serious expression on her face. “He doesn’t get off easily, not after what he’s done.”

“I understand,” Jurah said. He wanted to protest more, but knew Azareth didn’t want to talk about all this in front of Midrina. Not just yet. He turned and headed out of the room, walking past Midrina.

“What was that all about?” Midrina asked Azareth.

“Nothing to concern yourself with right now,” Azareth said. Midrina looked at her confused, but didn’t press any further.

The morning came too fast. Azareth barely slept after hearing everything Artibain saw and learned on his mission. She was sitting by the fire, staring into the flames. She was trying to wrap her head around what she learned last night. There was so much information to take in. There was a knock on the door, Azareth turned and saw Jurah come in. She smiled weakly and looked back at the fire.

“Az?” Jurah asked, as he walked into the room. He saw Azareth was still in her nightgown. She looked exhausted with dark circles under her eyes and her hair a mess.

“I know, I should be dressed and working,” Azareth said. Jurah chuckled lightly and sat down in the chair next to hers.

“I’m not Midrina, I’m not rushing you,” Jurah said. Azareth laughed and shook her head. “I just want you to know, I arrested Captain Sansun last night. He’s been stewing in a cell for the night, what should we do with him?”

“After breakfast can you and Artibain get some answers from him?” Azareth asked. Jurah looked at her with an eyebrow raised.

“We can question him.”

“If he doesn’t answer willingly, remember fire won’t hurt him,” Azareth said. She stood up and walked over to her wardrobe. Jurah felt his jaw drop for a second, he slowly stood up.

“Azareth, what are you asking?”

“Use force if necessary,” she said. Just then Midrina walked into the room and saw Azareth was standing at the wardrobe.

“Azareth, I understand that he has done-”

“Jurah, we need the information he has. If he won’t give it up on his own, make him.” Azareth turned around with the most serious expression on her face. “He doesn’t get off easily, not after what he’s done.”

“I understand,” Jurah said. He wanted to protest more, but knew Azareth didn’t want to talk about all this in front of Midrina. Not just yet. He turned and headed out of the room, walking past Midrina.

“What was that all about?” Midrina asked Azareth.

“Nothing to concern yourself with right now,” Azareth said. Midrina looked at her confused, but didn’t press any further.