Fire of the Inquisitor

tLucia watched as Sable vanished into the darkness of the cloud that hung over the city. She traded glances with Flavius and his eyes told her the same thing she was thinking, they were alone now. She then turned to the governor general’s niece who was rubbing her frost bitten wrist. Lucia removed the pack she was carrying and retrieved a bandage for the girl to wrap her arm.

“As soon as we can get you to safety, my lady,” Lucia told her.

“No, I can help you,” the young woman shook her head, “and please call me Helena.”

Flavius sneered. “Your uncle would never forgive us if we let you come to harm.”

“My uncle is gone,” the young woman said. “He has deserted us.”

Lucia and Flavius traded worried looks. The young female soldier wrapped her arm around the shoulder of the niece of the most powerful man in the village, the leader the legion had never been without since coming to this world. “Even from the ashes we will rise up,” she recited the motto of the Phoenix Legion.

Flavius sighed. “So, what is our plan?”

“You’re asking me?” Lucia said, shocked at what she just heard.

“You seem to be more experienced with this supernatural stuff than me,” Flavius frowned, “and that goth wizard seemed to trust you.”

Lucia smiled and nodded. “We need to find the rest of the legion.”

Helena shook her head. “It’s no use, one of the first things the dragon did was chase General Gaius and his men into a building and freeze it solid.”

Lucia swore. “Then we need anyone who can fight, anyone who can use a bow.”

“Why a bow?” Flavius asked.

Above the sounds of the dragon roar became louder and the could feel his footsteps. Lucia knew that he must have been looking for the inquisitor and knew they were running out of time. She kept her voice down, “The dragon is weak to fire, once we have archers we’ll get the fire wash from the warehouse and fight this beast the same way we fought the monsters in the great war.”

Helena’s eyes opened wide with the excitement of an idea. “I think I know where we can get soldiers.”

“Are you sure?” Lucia asked.

“Trust me,” Helena said. “And we should only have to make one trip.”

Lucia shrugged. “Alright, Flavius will go with you.”

“What will you be doing?” Flavius asked.

Lucia looked out into the town square. “I’ll buy you time, keep that monster from seeing what you are doing.”

Helena touched her shoulder with her small hands. “Please, be careful.”

“Don’t worry,” Lucia smiled before standing up, “I don’t plan on dying before seeing my father again.”

Lucia ran out from under the platform and into the open square. She spun in circles, looking for the dragon and not wanting to be surprised. It was so dark the it was almost hard to see the tops of the roofs, but something told her that’s where she’d find the enemy. When her search had turned up empty she was forced to more extreme measures.

“Hey, Rectifier,” she yelled into the darkness. “Your existence is the only mistake I see around here.”

Lucia jumped as a rumble came from behind her. “You humans are always so disrespectful.”

Lucia turned around and gasped at the sight of the dragon. His wings had been ripped to shreds and he had open sores all over his body from the osprey attack. It only made his appearance more hellish than before.

“Worship me and I will let you live in peace,” the dragon said.

Lucia withdrew her sword and pointed its tip at him. “I don’t think you’ll find too many of us in the legion that would accept that bargain.”

“Don’t I know it.” The dragon studied her for a moment. “You’re that girl who was with the inquisitor in the Fields of Shadows.”

“Yeah, and I’m the ….” before she could finish the dragon spit its frozen breath at her. She barely jumped out of the way before it created a giant icicle in the place she had been standing.

“As I remember you weren’t very strong when my shadow fought you.” The dragon laughed.

“You snuck up on me,” Lucia picked herself off the ground, “why don’t you try me in a fair fight.”

“What, do you mean in a swordfight?” The dragon yawned and sat on its hind legs like a dog or cat. “I think I’ll pass, besides I promised that I would spare the females.”

Lucia reluctantly returned her sword to her side, hopeful that she could delay the dragon before Flavius returned with the archers without a fight. “Who did you promise?”

“You humans are not lacking for enemies in this world.” The dragon stretched out on the frozen ground. “In a sense, I was born from their hatred.”

“Do you really think we wanted to be trapped in your Godforsaken world,” she said. “If we could find a way to leave we would.”

“I know what you’re doing.” The dragon sighed. Lucia cringed and felt her hand falling back to her sword. “Buying time for that inquisitor to come back.”

“Aren’t you worried?” Lucia took a step back. “He can defeat you.”

“Silly girl we’re on the same side,” the dragon roared with laughter, “right about now he is probably coming to that realization.”

“I don’t believe you,” Lucia gasped, but part of her did. She remembered Silence and the way the inquisitor was so easily swayed by her. If Sable did join with the dragon against the legion than they were all doomed.

“You will believe,” the dragon closed its eyes, “in time you will come to see me as a prophet of your salvation.”

Lucia withdrew her sword and charged the liar.