《Misti and the Dragon Egg》


 Prologue

    Misti wants her people to be free. She never expected that the journey to freedom meant going straight to the belly of the beast.


    <hr>


    Welcome to Terra, a world of countless stories. A world of peace and harmony for humans, elves, men-lynx, dwarves, and lizardfolk.


    But as time passed, the world changed, and so did the people of Terra.


    Elves became vain, humans turned greedy, and dwarves disappeared. The lizardfolk''s mighty empire was now a ruthless and vindictive army.


    Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.After the fall of Ailura, men-lynx were left to wander a world where they were either ignored or forgotten.


    Though not everything was lost for the men-lynx of Terra. Some of them still had hope, faith that their world would one day rise again.


    In the meantime, Terra still had a few stories to tell. One particular story is about a young cub whose true calling became a journey with a mysterious dragon egg.


    Her name is Misti, and this is her story.

 Chapter 1

    It was dark in this forest. Because she was sindur and thus gifted with cat eyes, Misti could clearly see the tanwar, even through the scrubs. She didn¡¯t need a torch or a blessing of light. Her blue eyes could capture even the faintest glimmer, and even if it was nighttime, the forest was never in total darkness. The tanwar was behind a wall of palm trees that cracked softly in the wind. Misti had made it to the clearing north of Sadarka, Tazman, where the tanwar was located.


    ¡°Go north. You¡¯ll see the Trou Pigre¡ªdon¡¯t fall because there are crocodiles!¡± the guide had told her. ¡°Follow the trail for two hundred and twenty-two steps, then go east. There is a clearing. She will be there.¡±


    Two hundred and twenty-two steps, maybe for a human! She was at three hundred something by now. Misti was small. Even if she was close to her adult height, she was still the size of a human child.


    Misti slid through the wall of palm trees and into the clearing. She¡¯d expected a cave or pit when the guide had said tanwar, but it was a house. A large hut with dark wood walls and a roof of clay and leaves. There were definitely people in there, she could hear their voices. Three different people, to be exact. Here, in this clearing, the air was dry and smelled of fruit. Misti looked up to the starry sky. She had arrived.


    Misti circled the house to find the front door. She wasn¡¯t going to try and sneak in because she needed to talk to those people inside. She passed a window and took a peek: just a few couches and crates in a dark room, but there was light flickering around the corner. The voices came from there. No one seemed to notice her so far, which wasn¡¯t surprising. After all, she was sindur, and sindurs were masters of stealth. She didn¡¯t even need to make an effort to move silently.


    Misti found the door. She took a deep breath before knocking. She was where she needed to be and needn¡¯t worry. The girl-cat had come all this way, she and her big backpack, to find someone who¡¯d be able to help. Her temple wasn¡¯t so far, just a few days north-west by carriage, back in low Gurdal. Whoever she was about to meet could help her get further in her quest. Misti had learned to speak adequately through her teachings, like humans and elves did. She was good with words and especially talented at convincing others. She would ask the people inside to help her, and everything would be fine. This was only the beginning. If those people refused to help, Misti would go back home.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    No answer. However, all sounds around Misti had come to a stop. She wanted to knock again, but she was interrupted by the pain in her shoulder. Her backpack, too heavy for her, had become a real nuisance. She placed the backpack on the floor, adjusted her cloak, and knocked again.


    The door flung open, and a large man slashed a sword way above Misti¡¯s head. Misti didn¡¯t flinch at all, not because she wasn¡¯t scared, but because it had happened so fast that she was frozen. She looked up, her breath on pause. The man was frowning and scratching his head, confused. From his height, he had not seen her.


    After a few seconds of wondering what would happen next, Misti decided to take matters into her own hands. She cleared her throat.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°H-hi...¡± she stuttered. ¡°Down here!¡±


    Her little voice had caught the man¡¯s attention. He looked down, frowned again, then his features softened.


    ¡°A child?¡± the man asked rhetorically. ¡°Sindur...¡±


    ¡°Ehm, just sindur!¡± Misti was thirteen years old, not a child, but she¡¯d keep her calm. ¡°I¡¯m looking for the Fixer.¡±


    The man was dark-skinned with wide green eyes. He wore a thin white shirt too small for his oversized arms.


    His frown returned as he examined Misti and the backpack by her side. ¡°Looking to sell something?¡±


    Misti shook her furry head. ¡®No.¡± An awkward silence, then she spoke again. ¡°Are you the Fixer?¡±


    The man was about to say something.


    ¡°Ki moun ki la?¡± A woman suddenly asked in a different tongue.


    The voice came from inside, from beyond the lights that flickered. Misti didn¡¯t understand the language. The man examined her again, mainly her clothes.


    ¡°Yon ti fi chat,¡± the big man replied. ¡°Li vle weh ou. Fixateur.¡±


    Misti had no idea what had been said, but the man obviously talked about her. He answered to the mysterious woman inside the house like she was his boss.


    ¡°Let her in,¡± the woman finally said. She had the thick accent of the region.


    The man instantly stepped aside. Whoever the woman was, she was definitely his boss. Misti took a step forward, then remembered her bag. She turned around, seized it, looped it over her shoulder, and stepped inside the Fixer¡¯s tanwar. She passed the couches, the crates and bookshelves. The big man escorted her to a small hallway with an open door around the corner.


    Inside the room was a woman seated at a wooden desk. A candelabra on the edge of the desk was lit, and the woman seemed distracted. She had parchments in one hand and a quill in the other.


    The woman handed the papers to someone behind the wall. She said some words in their language, and the man appeared into Misti¡¯s field of view. He was as large as the first man, dark-skinned too, but his eyes were small and black as night. He looked at Misti, puzzled, then headed out the hut.


    ¡°Come on in, please,¡± the woman said and motioned with her hand.


    She had bracers made of gold around her forearms. Upon a closer look, Misti noticed those weren¡¯t bracers at all. They were jewelry.


    Misti entered the room, the woman¡¯s office, and stood still by the desk. The girl-cat concluded there and then that this woman was probably the Fixer. The candlelight reflected on her brown skin like hues of gold. The woman had no hair and wore a blue necklace around her neck. She wore the brown and red leathers of Tazman rangers, but her jewelry and bronze rouge gave her a touch of nobility. Misti had never seen a woman dressed this way. She¡¯d only met temple nuns and pilgrims in her life. Warrior women had always belonged to the stories she¡¯d read in secret.


    The woman invited Misti to take a seat, and the girl-cat complied. Now was the time to return to the matter at hand and discuss her quest.

 Chapter 2

    ¡°Let me see if I understand,¡± the Fixer began. ¡°You want me to arrange a boat for you to...Ailura? Of all places?¡±


    Misti collected all her might and nodded, confirming the Fixer¡¯s words. Even she could admit that her quest was scary, but she was ready to take it head-on. She had to be ready. If no one at the temple was going to do it, Misti had to.


    The woman looked shocked and confused. ¡°How old are you?¡±


    ¡°Thirteen,¡± Misti answered with no hesitation.


    The woman¡¯s eyes were still rounded.


    The Fixer had introduced herself as Marie Trogon. She was a businesswoman who executed favors for people. She connected the commoners, the average citizens of Sadarka and other Taz cities, to those who could make those favors happen. Those who danced on the other side of the law. Misti had heard of the Fixer through a pilgrim she¡¯d once met. He¡¯d been to Ailura with the Fixer¡¯s service. Now, Misti needed to go to Ailura, too, so she¡¯d sought out the Fixer herself.


    ¡°I have the money,¡± Misti said. A better way to say that was that she¡¯d borrowed the money, but that was beside the point.


    ¡°Do you even know how much it costs to smuggle someone into sithrax territory?¡± Misti didn¡¯t know, but the answer was a whole lot of gold if she had to guess. ¡°Child, Ailura is swarming with lizardmen who will want your skin. Why would you want to go there?¡±


    Yes, Ailura was an island full of bloodthirsty lizardmen, and yes, anyone there not sithrax, and especially her, would have to watch their back, but a quest was a quest. Actually, it was more than a quest. It was a holy mission.


    Plus, she knew people¡ªmerchants, mostly¡ªtraveled to Ailura from time to time, so why couldn¡¯t she?


    ¡°I met a pilgrim once. Elwin was his name," Misti said. ¡°He said you once helped him get in and out of Ailura.¡±


    ¡°Elwin? The wood elf druid who sold trinkets?¡± Marie sounded baffled. ¡°He was a trader, he had a token, and...he was a wood elf. You are sindur, ti fi chat. The sithrax will make a meal out of you if they don¡¯t make you a slave.¡±


    Misti rounded her eyes. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Did lizardmen really eat sindurs? Misti had only heard that the sithrax were ugly and had big messy teeth.


    ¡°I have the money, and I can take care of myself,¡± Misti assured. She slowly regained her cool.


    ¡°Treh byen, little child. But if I send you there, whatever happens to you will be on my conscience.¡±


    Not a child. Misti was losing her calm again. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to care about what happens to me.¡±


    Marie scoffed. ¡°Do you even know what a sithrax looks like?¡± She leaned in, planted her elbows on the wooden desk. She stared at Misti with piercing brown eyes and spoke in a dark tone. ¡°They are twice my size. They have slitted snake eyes and teeth like a shark¡¯s. They carry weapons heavier than you. Their scales cannot be pierced by steel, and some of them spit acid that will make your eyes melt into your skull.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Misti swallowed her fear. ¡°Is that supposed to make me scared?¡± she asked, bluffing that she wasn¡¯t a little afraid.


    ¡°You of all people should know Ailura is no happy place. You either have a reason out of this world for going there, or a death wish.¡±


    ¡°Of all people?¡±


    Marie reclined back in her seat. Her gaze had changed. She looked...puzzled. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Misti did not answer. ¡°You don¡¯t know about Ailura? You don¡¯t know it¡¯s the¡ª¡±


    ¡°The sindur homeworld, I know,¡± Misti interrupted the Fixer. ¡°But now I know everyone fears Ailura, though people still go there and return just fine. The pilgrim, Elwin, is proof of that.¡±


    Misti knew Ailura was the birthplace of the sindur race. Nowadays, sindurs wandered the world, homeless. Some lived good lives in lands like Bravoure, Vanhaui, or even Galies. Others still struggled. People remembered the invasion of Ailura as history, a tragedy of over four centuries ago. Misti knew there was still fear, but now, she was faced with how much fear of the sithrax remained. This made her mission all the more critical.


    ¡°You said I needed a reason out of this world to go to Ailura?¡± Misti checked. The Fixer confirmed with a single nod.


    Misti lifted her backpack and placed it on the desk. She opened it and showed Marie what was inside. The reason why it was so heavy. The reason why she needed to go to Ailura in the first place. It was time to put her persuasion skills to the test.


    Marie¡¯s jaw dropped when she saw the content of the backpack. ¡°Kiyehs sa...¡± she mumbled. ¡°Gods be damned!¡± She was in shock.


    Misti closed her backpack again carefully, but not before checking on the dragon egg herself to see if it was still in one piece. She¡¯d carried the bag from Gurdal all the way here without opening it. Though dragon eggs could survive apocalypses, she still felt compelled to confirm it.


    ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡± Marie asked.


    Misti puffed her chest. ¡°It¡¯s my convent¡¯s most protected secret. It was taken to Bravoure after the Raids of Ailura.¡±


    Marie frowned. ¡°It¡¯s a dragon egg. How do the sindurs have a dragon egg? The god-kings left Terra millennia ago!¡±


    ¡°Our gods left this with us. We call it the Siyliq, or...Gift. And I must take it back to Ailura.¡± Misti¡¯s eyes met the Fixer¡¯s. She held the woman¡¯s gaze for as long as possible, determined to convince her.


    ¡°I have a thousand questions, child, but I will ask only one.¡± Marie Trogon took one deep breath. ¡°Why?¡±


    It seemed like Misti had the woman¡¯s full attention.


    ¡°The Siy has been in sindur hands since the beginning of our scriptures. My convent has watched over it century after century, guarding it, waiting for it to hatch. For when the Siy opens, the sindur gods will return, and all suffering will end.


    ¡°When the sithrax came to Ailura, many nuns of the convent sacrificed their lives to get the egg to a safe place. The Siy was brought to Bravoure, to our settlement in low Gurdal, where we¡¯ve kept it safe and secret all these years.¡±


    ¡°Hm, that is an interesting story,¡± Marie said, but she was getting impatient. ¡°Sindur gods aside, us on the continent believe dragons were the original gods. Do you realize the implications of you running around with a dragon egg? Do you realize how much gold this information is worth?¡±


    Misti¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Where was the Fixer getting at, suddenly mentioning money?


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Marie said and sighed. ¡°I am not one to mess with religion, especially not with the gods. But let¡¯s go back to the matter at hand. You want to take the egg back to Ailura.¡± She paused for a brief moment. ¡°Why you?¡±


    Should the girl-cat tell Marie the real reason why? She could change the story a bit, make it more compelling. She could tell Marie Trogon of a prophecy involving her that guaranteed the freedom of the sindur people should the egg be returned to its destined place. But that would be slightly different from the truth. There was no such prophecy, no such guarantee, but there was a vision. Her vision. The one voice that had come in her dreams and ordained she¡¯d take the Siy back to Ailura. Because Ailura was the only place the egg would hatch, and when the egg hatched, the sindur gods would return and free their homeworld.

 Chapter 3

    Marie Trogon would think Misti was crazy if she told her of the vision. She would probably laugh and dismiss the girl-cat. Misti knew that because that was how Mother Superior had reacted when she¡¯d told her about the voice. Maybe Misti should just tell her it was a prophecy inscribed in the sacred stones or something. The Fixer seemed religious, she¡¯d probably believe it. But that would be lying. What about not telling her the entire truth? Wouldn¡¯t that be the same as lying? Misti did a lot of things, but she never lied.


    Misti needed to resort to something else. What about just being honest? Why was she doing all of this anyway? Misti was rational enough to know that her quest had every chance to fail, but that didn¡¯t stop her. If she failed, it would be yet another failure from yet another sindur who¡¯d tried to change things. If she succeeded, it would mean the freedom of an entire race. The pros and cons were crystal clear.


    Misti joined her paws together and closed her eyes. She might as well tell Marie Trogon the real reason why.


    ¡°I know I¡¯m going straight into danger,¡± Misti said. ¡°And I know my odds are slim, but I believe the only place this egg will hatch is Ailura. If there is one chance, even the slightest chance, that my people will be freed because of this, I have to take it.¡±


    Something changed in Marie¡¯s gaze. It was softer, more understanding. And then, it was surprised. That¡¯s when Misti realized her joined paws were glowing. A soothing golden light that emitted a calming hum. Not this again... Misti quickly disjoined her paws and hid them behind her back. She smiled awkwardly and chuckled.


    ¡°Sorry, this happens when I get excited,¡± she said. Since Marie wasn¡¯t saying anything, Misti cleared her throat. ¡°So, what do you say, Mrs. Fixer?¡±


    Marie chuckled in turn. ¡°You are very strange, ti fi chat, but you have courage,¡± she said. Her voice was warmer. ¡°I may even say that you inspire me. But remember, it¡¯s easy to confuse courage for foolishness.¡±


    In Misti¡¯s case, those might be as joined as her paws had just been.


    ¡°I will accept your gold,¡± the Fixer announced, and Misti¡¯s blue eyes instantly sparkled. ¡°A ship departs weekly from Sadarka harbor. It is headed to Indus-Kali but always makes a pitstop in Kotma Ata to replenish supplies. This, of course, is a cover. The ship captain is handsomely paid to smuggle people in and out of Ailura. The next boat departs in two days at dusk.¡±If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Misti could feel the excitement booming in her chest. ¡°Thank you, thank you so much!¡± She was one step closer. ¡°How much should I pay?¡±


    ¡°How much do you have?¡±


    Misti searched through her pockets for the pouch of gold she¡¯d taken from the temple¡¯s treasury. This gold was used to maintain the temple and in case of rare emergencies. This definitely qualified as an emergency. Misti dropped the pouch on the desk, making a heavy clink.


    ¡°Is that enough?¡± she asked.


    The Fixer seized the pouch of gold, opened it, examined it, then exhaled deeply. She looked hesitant, like she was calculating whether this would cover her service. Or maybe she was just concerned for Misti. She took out a few coins in her hand and returned them to the desk.


    ¡°Here, take this back,¡± Marie said. ¡°Get yourself a good meal in Sadarka.¡±


    Misti gathered the coins in her paws and pushed them down her pocket. ¡°Thanks. Ehm...how do I know which boat I need to take?¡±


    ¡°Ask for Joshua Crane at the docks. He will be aware of our deal,¡± Marie said. She then leaned on the desk again, frowning, like she had something important to say. ¡°Outsiders in Ailura need a token to move around, though you are sindur. The chances are high that you will be apprehended regardless.¡± Marie seemed to hesitate again. ¡°If you make it there and you manage to stay alive, I have a contact who can help you move around the island. I strongly doubt she¡¯ll help you, but that¡¯s in your hands now. Her name is Agatha Bonnet. You will find her at the Lion¡¯s Hearth near the Kotma Ata market. You can''t miss it.¡±


    Misti made mental notes of everything the Fixer said. She nodded and grabbed her backpack again. Behind her, the large man from the entrance was back. Marie Trogon motioned at him. It was time for Misti to leave.


    ¡°Good luck, fi chat,¡± Marie bid. ¡°May the gods watch over you.¡±


    ¡°And the Humble Star over you,¡± Misti whispered, completing a traditional sindur mantra people here knew little about. Marie didn¡¯t hear her.


    The large man escorted Misti out of the tanwar. He closed the door behind her without saying a word.


    Misti was alone in the darkness of night. The distant chirps of night crickets reached her ears. The moon hung still in the sky above the clearing. It would take her a few hours to return to Sadarka, then she¡¯d find a luxurious inn and pay for that good meal with the money she had left. She¡¯d walk around the next day to see the market, renowned for its wide variety of fruit and exotic vegetables. Misti was particularly fond of coconuts, so she¡¯d buy at least three. She¡¯d have them chopped and cut into small pieces so she could take them with her on her journey to Ailura. Maybe Misti would need an extra bag, but she shouldn¡¯t count on getting one. The one she was already carrying was already as heavy as boulders.


    Misti reached Sadarka later in the night. The city was supposed to be asleep, though she could still hear street music coming from the harbor. Under different circumstances, she would have checked it out and educated herself on the traditional Taz drum. But Misti was tired and needed a good night¡¯s rest. She¡¯d been traveling for days, and this was merely the beginning. Although...maybe the music would be a good distraction after all, because as much as she tried to keep her calm, Misti was nervous, worried, anxious, scared...terrified.

 Chapter 4

    Spiced lentil soup, rice in tomato and onion sauce, and cloud bread made for the perfect last meal before a deadly adventure. Misti¡¯s stomach was still full when she boarded Captain Crane¡¯s ship. It was still full as she hid inside a crate on the cargo deck. Inside her box, there was no light, only the musty smell of mold. She could hear the footsteps of crewmen above her on the deck who had no idea she was there. She could hear faint breaths and muffled cries. She was not alone in those crates, but she knew she would never find out who was on the cargo deck with her.


    One night. Misti just had to survive one night in this crate. It was large enough that she could curl up into a ball and close her eyes. Maybe she¡¯d do that. With her paws joined together, she recited a silent sindur prayer, then her paws glowed. This was a small blessing of light to soothe herself. Misti didn¡¯t speak the sindur language fluently, only a few words from the traditional tongue of scriptures and mantras. Soon, for the first time, she might hear Sindawr be spoken. In her short life, who would have thought she¡¯d be headed to Ailura so soon. Kotma Ata of all places, the sindur¡¯s centuries-old capital.


    Misti had spent her life¡ªher three lives¡ªliving as a nun inside the temple. Her parents had died during the war in Bravoure nearly two hundred years ago. She had no memories of them, nor of her past two lives, only figments of emotional connections she¡¯d made. She knew she¡¯d carried her lessons learned with her in this next life, but what those lessons had been, she had yet to discover. The Mother Superior had raised her this time. In her previous life, Misti had raised Mother Superior. The old sindur nun had told her all the lessons she¡¯d learned from Misti, and Misti was proud to have once been so wise and knowledgeable.


    Sometimes, Misti wondered if the voice from her vision had spoken to her in a previous life. Misti wondered why she hadn¡¯t acted sooner if that was the case. Perhaps it was the very first time the voice was speaking to her. Perhaps she¡¯d tried and failed. Her paws joined, Misti heard the voice again. She could play the music of its words exactly how she¡¯d heard them sung in her dreams.


    The Siyliq does not belong. It must be returned whence it came. For freedom is about. From the Siy will soar a saving force. An army of lynx and gods will rise, and the land will be free at last.


    And on that last note, Misti fell asleep, hugging her backpack.


    The lid of the crate slid off and made a loud thump when it hit the ground.


    ¡°Get out,¡± a giant human in overalls blurted.  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Misti opened her eyes. She quickly realized the boat was standing still. No more heave of the ocean. No more wind. The man, impatient, grumbled something. Misti quickly looped her backpack over her shoulders and climbed out of the crate.


    The ship was docked at the harbor¡¯s edge, away from a fleet of large galley ships painted black. Misti looked around, up and down, trying to localize herself. It was early morning, but the sun was already so bright. Around her, more docks. Beyond the docks, burrows? Misti squinted to see better. It looked like hills at first, but she realized those were dwellings when she looked better. Houses with round roofs, covered in grey clay, stuck to each other like cells of a chaotic beehive. There was still order in the constructions in front of her. A street, a street sign, different aisles of those superposed dwellings. But everything was so...cluttered. Was this what sindur homes were supposed to look like? Misti sighed in disbelief. How could she not even know what sindur homes looked like?


    Reality pulled her out of her stupor when she saw, a few feet ahead, Captain Crane facing a creature whose sight instantly chilled her blood. That creature, undeniably a sithrax guard, was a Misti taller than the human. He wore plate armor painted brown like the flag on those black galleys. And just seeing him brought a deep, intrinsic sense of fear down Misti¡¯s gut.


    She couldn¡¯t see his eyes. He was grey. His jaw was large and finished with downward-pointing spikes that looked like external teeth. He had thin lips that stretched across his scaled, elongated face. The crest on his head descended right into the back of his plate cuirass.


    Misti had to hide quickly. She opted for shade behind the nearest rounded house, where she still had eyes on the harbor. She peeked into the street. Two more guards in brown armor appeared and marched in unison towards Captain Crane. They all looked the same, same crest, same long and spiky tail, same thorns above their eyes. They breathed the same way and grunted simultaneously as they walked. Captain Crane¡¯s crew dragged and deposited a massive crate by the first guard¡¯s feet. He inspected it, grunted, handed Crane a pouch of something, and that was it. Within minutes, the captain had boarded his ship again and prepared to leave. The other guards carried the large crate away, victorious, like they¡¯d hunted it themselves. Whatever was in there was something they craved. Misti was relieved it wasn¡¯t her inside. They didn¡¯t notice the girl-cat in the shadow of the house. They walked past her, their steps rolling like three heavy drums.


    Now came a whole new challenge. Misti had to stay in the shadows and still make it to the market, to that place the Fixer had mentioned. She looked into the street. Besides those three guards, it was empty. The next street, opposite the street sign, was empty as well. Misti waited for the guards to disappear from earshot to sneak to the sign. Maybe it pointed to the market?


    Well, gods be damned, she couldn¡¯t read any of it. The markings clawed into the wood made absolutely no sense. One thing was sure, the sign wasn¡¯t written in Sindawr. Misti had to take a gamble and pick a street. She¡¯d definitely not pick the one the guards had come from.

 Chapter 5

    The streets slithered and split and rejoined in meanders of sand and clay. Misti was lucky no one was in the streets at this hour. She got lost and had to retrace her steps, pick a new street, change direction. The street signs didn¡¯t help her, and she was getting desperate. Where in the gods¡¯ names was the Kotma Ata market?


    She¡¯d have to rely on scent and scent alone. If she could catch a whiff of fruit or bread or meat or whatever the sithrax ate, she¡¯d head in that direction.


    Misti passed more of these rounded dwellings. She wasn¡¯t making a noise, not a single peep, but she gasped when she heard a door open. Behind her, someone had come out of the hive, something large because their footsteps were loud and heavy. It was a sithrax, tall and imposing, dressed in a black linen tunic. Misti rushed to the dark space between two houses and hid there, perfectly still, praying the creature wouldn¡¯t see her. He walked by Misti and dragged something behind him.


    Someone.


    In the lizardman¡¯s hand was a leather cord, and on the end of that cord was a male sindur who kept his gaze on the ground. He didn¡¯t make a sound. The rope was fastened around his furry neck. Seeing this sindur whose fur was grey, just like hers, was like looking through a dark lens at a helpless friend. When the sindur passed her, he briefly glanced in her direction. Their eyes didn¡¯t meet, but Misti was sure he¡¯d seen her. The lizardman hadn¡¯t. The sindur said nothing and kept walking, his head down, his hands bound.


    More and more lizardmen came out of their homes, some of them with a sindur on a leash, most of them alone. Misti had to bury her distress and keep going. She hurried, constantly switching between shadow and sun, hiding in small hollows between houses. All of them appeared to be going in one direction. At this hour of the day, it could be the market. Misti decided to follow the crowd.


    But it stopped a few feet ahead. Sithrax and sindurs gathered in a line. Misti glanced ahead from her hiding spot and saw some sort of gate beyond the crowd. She spotted four guards in brown armor checking each passerby. Actually, they weren¡¯t checking the sithrax or sindurs with them. They were checking the humans. And that¡¯s when Misti realized there were also humans here.


    Misti got closer. The crowd was loud and disorganized, but she could catch some words from humans speaking Common. She just needed to hear one word among the cacophony that would confirm her suspicions.


    Market.


    More than one person mentioned it¡ªshe was headed in the right direction.


    Now, she had to pass the gate and these guards. Misti scanned the crowd quickly, looking for a way to sneak in undetected. She spotted a group of men dragging a cart full of jars. Those were probably headed to the market to sell their goods. Misti took her chance.


    While the guards were busy checking on the next people in line, she ran towards the cart. She ran as fast as she could, slipping past and between lizardmen who had no idea she was there. Her size was, for once, her special trick. Once she reached the cart, she crouched and slid underneath it, then she latched onto the bottom. The cart was just high enough that she could hang there with her backpack without touching the ground. She just had to hang while she made it past the gate. After that, she¡¯d let go and swing between corners and hollows again. Once the cart was on the move, Misti clenched her jaw, pressed her eyes shut, and mustered all her might to stay hanging.


    Misti had reached the market, a vast sea of wooden stands with colorful silk blankets for shade. Most of the merchants here were humans or elven. Some were even sindurs. The only sithrax here were the visitors. Everything one could possibly imagine was sold here. Weapons, potions, pottery, spices, jewelry. Misti had never expected all treasures of Terra to find their way here, in the Kotma Ata market. What could sithrax possibly have to gain from human goods? With their heavy armor and big weapons, they could probably care less about a lovely vase.


    The girl-cat noticed the tokens around each merchant¡¯s neck, exposed, like they were forced to wear it. Those must be the tokens Marie Trogon had mentioned. Those must have been what the sithrax guards were checking at the gate. Misti hid under a table while more sithrax passed by her. She¡¯d already made it halfway through the market, but it was getting terribly hot. She was going to suffocate soon if she didn¡¯t find the Lion¡¯s Heart or at least take off her cloak. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    After the sithrax were gone, Misti snuck out of her hiding spot. She was about to take a turn when something latched on to her backpack. She was instantly stopped and almost tipped over. She didn¡¯t dare to turn around, afraid of what she might find.


    A deep voice addressed her in the language she barely understood. It was low and gravelly. Misti finally looked over her shoulder and saw the smiling face of a man, a sindur man, with a striped red coat.


    He repeated his words, now with a look of wonder. He¡¯d stopped smiling. Now, his eyes were urgent and scared. He looked around, scanned the area. While he was distracted, Misti reclaimed her backpack. When his attention returned to her, she made a run for it. The man, panicked, tried to latch on to her again but failed. As she ran, he kept on repeating one single word.


    Jasir! Jasir! Jasir!


    It was Sindawr for, ¡°Hide!¡±


    Misti zigzagged between stands until she reached the end of the market. She quickly checked the street adjacent to the stands, she had to find the Lion¡¯s Heart fast. She couldn¡¯t read the street signs, billboards, or the names of shops around her. All houses here looked the same as the previous dwellings but bigger and more decorated, except... Right there, at the end of the street, was a large house of clay with multiple sections and domes, and the entrance was a lion¡¯s maw. The door was made of wooden shards painted to resemble bloody teeth.


    That must be the Lion¡¯s Heart. One more sprint, and she¡¯d be there. Her paws and feet were wet from the sweat, she had to hurry. She almost reached the tavern when a large sithrax in brown plate armor stepped in her way. She almost ran into him.


    He said nothing. He simply stared her down, silent.


    More joined him shortly after, probably his friends, and Misti was petrified. Just them staring at her this way made her eyes water. Panic rose. That was it. That was the end of her mission, of her life. She¡¯d failed. She¡¯d get captured now and eaten by these three lizardmen.


    The largest one leaned forward, but he couldn¡¯t even come to her size because she was so small. Now, Misti could see the slitted snake eyes the color of dying embers. His jaw moved slowly. He was about to speak when a blue shadow stepped in between Misti and the lizardman.


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, no need to get aggressive, Gursky,¡± the shadow said. It was a human man.


    The sithrax¡ªGursky?¡ªgrunted. ¡°Viiiiirgyle...¡± he uttered with a snort. His voice could shatter Misti¡¯s bones, given enough volume.


    The man wore a dark blue jacket, brown linen pants, and knee-high leather boots. He stood in front of Misti like he was protecting her. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, Gursky, it¡¯s Viiiiirgil, not Viiiiirgyle.¡±


    ¡°And how many times do I have to tell you it¡¯s Gursk, not Gursky?¡± The sithrax pointed at the girl-cat, who trembled in fear. ¡°Doo vah ee mi ssa.¡±


    ¡°I know, I know, Oo ah ee tu ssa, but you know where doo vah?¡± Virgil¡ªif Misti had understood his name correctly¡ªwas actually taunting this lizardman. His tone was almost mocking. Wasn¡¯t he afraid?


    Gursky grunted in response. ¡°Lion¡¯s Heart,¡± he grumbled.


    Virgil clapped in his hands. ¡°Bravo, my friend. And I bet the Reaper would be appalled to hear about a scuffle in front of his bar. Especially if that scuffle involves your men.¡±


    Gursky grunted again. Perhaps grunts were words in his language.


    ¡°This is the Outcast, my friend. I suggest you leave now, for everyone¡¯s sake,¡± Virgil finished.


    The sithrax had the most disapproving look of all, but he snorted and turned around. He returned towards the market, his two friends following him.


    ¡°Oh, and, Gursky!¡± Virgil called. He waited for the lizardman to turn around again. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a beer for your cooperation, okay?¡± Gursky said nothing. Virgil made a thumbs-up in the air. ¡°Great, that¡¯s settled!¡± Then he laughed and turned to Misti.


    She could see his face now. Virgil had light brown hair and a pale complexion. His eyes were dark blue, like his long jacket, and he wore a white linen shirt and a silver chain around his neck. Hooked to his leather belt on each side were two small scabbards.


    He held out a hand. ¡°The name¡¯s Virgil.¡± Misti didn¡¯t know what was expected of her, so she simply made the same movement. Virgil chuckled instantly. ¡°Long way from home, are you?¡±


    ¡°Y-yes,¡± Misti said. Her voice was still crass from the fear. She cleared her throat. ¡°I¡¯m Misti. Thank you...for protecting me.¡±


    ¡°No need for thanks, Miss. It¡¯s the least I could do.¡±


    Virgil had just saved her fur. Misti could have sworn this would have been her end hadn¡¯t he been there. She thanked him again. Now, she was one step ahead.

 Chapter 6

    Virgil showed the girl-cat around the Lion¡¯s Heart. This large tavern without windows was lit by torches on the walls and a chandelier. Paintings of odd, ghostly shapes hung from the walls. The wooden floor creaked under Misti¡¯s feet as she walked. The tables and chairs were made of dark oiled wood, and Virgil picked a seat close to the bar. He invited Misti to sit down, and she did so, hiding her backpack under her chair.


    The tavern was quiet. An old man sat by the bar, sipping his drink silently. A couple of wood elves in brown leathers were focused on a card game. No sithrax or sindur in view.


    ¡°So, Miss, aren¡¯t you a little young to be traveling on your own?¡± Virgil asked, then he motioned to the bald man behind the bar. ¡°One breess, please. Put it on my tap. Oh, and one hot rhorn milk for the girl.¡±


    The bartender sighed so deeply, Misti could hear it from where she sat. ¡°Sure thing, Virgil, sure thing!¡± he mumbled in his beard.


    Virgil¡¯s attention returned to Misti. ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°I...¡± Misti hesitated. What could she tell this man that wouldn¡¯t sound crazy? ¡°I¡¯m looking for¡ª¡± Shoot, what was her name? Oh, no! Misti had forgotten the name of the Fixer¡¯s contact. She closed her eyes to concentrate. Bonnet. Something Bonnet. ¡°Madame Bonnet?¡±


    Virgil frowned. ¡°You¡¯re looking for Agatha?¡± He sounded confused.


    Agatha! That was it. ¡°Yes. I was told I could find her here.¡±


    Virgil looked confused. ¡°Agatha isn¡¯t here anymore, Miss,¡± he said in a sorry tone. ¡°She went on business to the continents and never returned.¡±


    ¡°What? But Marie told me...¡±


    ¡°Whoever gave you that intel needs to update their ledger!¡±


    Mist had no words. No, this couldn¡¯t be! With Agatha gone, she didn¡¯t have many options. What could she do? Now, she was all alone on this island. How would she ever return home? A thousand realizations crashed on Misti¡¯s shoulders. How foolish she¡¯d been, venturing down this path without any way of coming back!


    Misti closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She had to keep her cool. She hadn¡¯t planned on doing this with Agatha Bonnet in the first place, so she¡¯d find a way. She knew she needed to head to the dunes south. She¡¯d find ruins of a temple there, that was what the scriptures said. Maybe this Virgil human could help. The bartender suddenly appeared beside their table.


    ¡°One breess, and one hot milk for the child,¡± the bald man said as he dropped the mugs on their table.


    Misti smelled the milk, and her stomach instantly growled. She was famished. She¡¯d not been able to take any coconuts with her, and this smelled exactly like coconut milk.


    Virgil gulped a large sip of his breess, whatever that was. Misti mimicked him. She seized her warm cup in her paws and brought it to her lips. She took a sip, then instantly had to spit it out. It was disgusting. It tasted like sindur piss mixed with Bravan cheese. She coughed and coughed again while Virgil laughed his heart out.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Misti asked with a disgusted face.


    ¡°That¡¯s rhino-milk. It¡¯s what they feed sindurs with here. It¡¯s very nutritious!¡±


    ¡°What is rhino-milk? Why did you give me that?¡±


    ¡°Speaking of sindurs,¡± Virgil began, ignoring her cries and questions. ¡°What reason could you possibly have for coming down here? I mean, you¡¯re lucky you¡¯re still roaming around. Had those sithrax taken you, you¡¯d be in chains. The only thing they¡¯d give you would be a scythe or a plow.¡±


    Misti didn¡¯t have any rational response. She took another sip of her disgusting milk. You don¡¯t refuse food and drink someone offers you! Plus, if it was nutritious, bonus for her.


    ¡°What¡¯s a breess?¡± she asked out of the blue.


    ¡°Rallisan ale,¡± Virgil replied, taking another sip. ¡°You¡¯re not going to answer my question, are you?¡±


    ¡°Well, I could ask you the same!¡± A retort was better than a reply. ¡°Why are you here? Ailura is not the home of humans. How did you know that lizard from earlier? Why do you act like you own the place?¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    A smirk stretched across Virgil¡¯s face. ¡°So, that¡¯s how it¡¯ll be. An answer for another.¡± He downed his breess and reclined in his seat, crossing his arms. ¡°I like your style, Miss. I¡¯m Virgil von Vorhut, I trade in information. I listen, I read, and I know things. Things people like the Reaper want.¡±


    The Reaper¡ªthat was the second time Misti heard that name. Virgil held out his hand again. She still didn¡¯t know what was expected, so she made the same movement.


    Virgil seized her paw and shook it slightly. ¡°And in the world of spies, we shake hands when we make friends.¡±


    Misti stared at him, surprised, her lips parted. She eventually asked the question that had been burning on her tongue. ¡°Who¡¯s the Reaper?¡±


    ¡°The Reaper owns the Outcast, this district. Anything not sithrax ends up here and answers to the Reaper.¡±


    ¡°Are people afraid of him?¡± Misti asked. It sounded like it. Why would people otherwise answer to him?


    Virgil¡¯s smirk remained. ¡°Even the sithrax are afraid of him.¡±


    Misti paused. ¡°I thought the sithrax were afraid of nothing.¡±


    ¡°Afraid of wood elves or humans? No.¡± Virgil chuckled. ¡°There is only one race in the world the sithrax don¡¯t want to mess with.¡± He paused for the reveal. ¡°Dark elves.¡±


    Misti nodded slowly. So, whoever ran this place, was a dark elf, which meant very little to Misti. She¡¯d never met one, only heard stories of a war. The war her parents had died in. That was two regenerations ago, history.


    ¡°So,¡± Virgil began again. ¡°I gave you my answer. Now it¡¯s time for yours.¡±


    Something was odd about Virgil. Maybe it was his insistence. Misti had a good flair for that. Untrustworthy people smelled of something...musty. Maybe it was just the rhino-milk getting to her head. Virgil had saved her, after all.


    Misti cleared her throat. She didn¡¯t have much to say, but it still felt like a lot. ¡°I need to go south, to the dunes. To the ruins of the Holy Beacon.¡±


    Virgil opened his eyes wide. ¡°The Holy Beacon? You mean, that old tower at the edge of the island? It¡¯s empty... People say it¡¯s been empty for centuries.¡±


    A...tower? Misti was as surprised as Virgil, maybe even more.


    ¡°I...¡± Misti hesitated. ¡°I need to bring...something there. I mean, return something.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    She might as well show him. Since Agatha Bonnet was gone, maybe Virgil could help her get to that place. He¡¯d fended off the sithrax earlier. He could protect her in Kotma Ata.


    Misti grabbed her backpack and placed it on her lap. She opened it, showing her new friend the dragon egg. Virgil¡¯s eyes lit up.


    His gaze was fixed to the egg for a moment. It was like he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off it. Without moving his head, he looked up to Misti.


    ¡°This is a dragon egg,¡± he stated. ¡°You have a dragon egg.¡± He sounded so severe all of a sudden. His smirk had disappeared entirely and was replaced by thin lips and an urgent look.


    Misti was getting a little scared, but Virgil quickly regained his composure. His smile returned.


    ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the tower,¡± he declared. ¡°I have a horse that can get us there in less than a day.¡±


    ¡°What? You will?¡± Misti was surprised. And what was up with that sudden change of mood? ¡°A horse?¡±


    ¡°Yes. My horse can get us to the dunes. And I know exactly the person you need to see about,¡± he pointed at the egg, ¡°This.¡±


    Misti¡¯s eyes rounded, saying tell me more.


    ¡°They call him the Blasphemer around here,¡± Virgil explained. ¡°He¡¯s an outcast, banned from Kotma Ata and other cities. He upset the sithrax by preaching some sort of old religion, saying a holy reckoning was to come if they pursued their brutal ways.¡±


    ¡°And now he lives in the dunes?¡± Misti still wasn¡¯t sure how this man could help, but he definitely sounded like someone she¡¯d want to meet. A religious man in Ailura, exiled by the sithrax. Was he an old and wise sindur? To be honest, she was excited to meet him.


    ¡°No one is supposed to know where he is,¡± Virgil said, adopting a mysterious tone. ¡°But information is what I breathe. He¡¯s at the tower, beyond the dunes. He knows it in and out. Whatever you need to do there, he will help you.¡±


    Misti was ready to believe the gods had laid this path out for her. It was her lucky day. Virgil would help her get out of Kotma Ata and to the dunes. She¡¯d meet this man, and she¡¯d tell him about her vision. She¡¯d show him the dragon egg. Maybe this man had been placed by the gods on her path. Maybe she¡¯d been placed on his. Regardless, she was confident that she was doing the right thing. Misti couldn¡¯t hide her excitement. She downed her disgusting milk, the taste didn¡¯t matter anymore, and stood up.


    ¡°Where can I get some food?¡± she asked. Virgil raised an eyebrow. ¡°I need to eat before we leave.¡±


    Virgil smiled. He motioned for her to sit back down. His eyes were warm and welcoming. ¡°You can eat here, I¡¯ll order something. Eat quickly, and we¡¯ll make it to the dunes by sundown.¡±


    Misti acknowledged. Her quest could continue, and she could almost see the end of it.

 Chapter 7

    Kotma Ata¡¯s harbor district was crowded, but everything beyond the Outcast was a swarm. Houses there were stacked, piled, amassed in nests of clay where hundreds, or maybe thousands, of sithrax and sindurs lived. Misti couldn¡¯t possibly believe this architecture belonged to her ancestors. The sithrax must be the makers of this chaotic design.


    Virgil had packed Misti¡¯s cloak in his horse¡¯s satchel. The sun was high in the Ailuran sky, and the temperature was no longer bearable for the girl-cat. She was used to the mild cold of Bravan winters. Mist walked beside him as he led his brown horse through the packed streets of the Ditch and Gutter. Those were the poorest districts of the capital.


    By Virgil¡¯s side, she was invisible. The sithrax ignored him, ignored her, and let him pass without question. He must be a respected man around here. The same thing couldn¡¯t be said for lonely sindurs wandering the streets.


    Every twenty steps, Misti would see a lone sindur be apprehended by a guard or two. They¡¯d shout at him, screech in their tongue until he¡¯d show the token around his neck or the bracelet around his wrist. If it was a female, they¡¯d force her on her knees. After three occurrences, Misti couldn¡¯t watch anymore. The last sindur they passed before leaving the city had been wounded. There was blood trickling down her paw. Misti had desperately wanted to rush to her help and heal her with a blessing.


    She could finally breathe when they passed the city gates, leaving Kotma Ata for good. But her breath also squeezed her heart, leaving a painful mark behind.


    ***


    The river that circled Kotma Ata provided some shades of green to this grey landscape. A mile away from the city walls, there was only an empty field under the burning sun. The capital¡¯s sandy grounds quickly expanded in a vast sea of grey. Virgil mounted his horse and helped Misti climb behind him. He showed her where to grip around his waist, and off they went. The horse galloped in the direction of the southern dunes. It had no problem sweeping the sand under its hooves. Its black mane wavered in the silent wind.


    Getting used to the heaving movements of a galloping horse was tough during the first minutes, but Misti quickly got used to it. She learned to follow the rhythm. She managed to lessen the turbulence, making it also comfortable for the dragon egg. Even though, as commonly known, dragon eggs could withstand the Storms of Creation.


    An hour in, they reached the beginning of the dunes. Rows of sandy hills stretched before them and beyond the horizon. Here, the sand had the color of the sun. It was like standing on a motionless ocean of gold. An empty sea of sand, because they were entirely alone.


    ¡°You okay there?¡± Virgil checked as they slowed down to climb.


    ¡°All fine!¡± Misti was actually starting to enjoy this.


    ¡°Good. We have about eight hours left. Well, unless we run into a sandworm, that is.¡±


    Eight hours of this? Oh, yes! Misti could ride on this horse for the rest of her life. Climbing up and down dunes proved most delightful.


    Wait.


    What?


    A sandworm?


    ¡°What do you mean sandworm?¡± she asked.


    Virgil laughed at her. ¡°I mean exactly what I mean, Miss. Giant sandworm attacks are common in the dunes. Why do you think no one goes there?¡± He looked over his shoulder and gave Misti an evident smile.


    Her eyes were wide open like she was about to scream. She¡¯d thought Kotma Ata would get the best of her. She wasn¡¯t ready to give the dunes that luxury.


    ¡°Ha, I¡¯m just kidding!¡± Virgil laughed, and Misti instantly frowned. She wanted to punch him. ¡°Sandworms are the size of a lame dog. I have two daggers and a sword somewhere in my satchels. We¡¯ll be fine. Plus, worms are afraid of horses. Something about vibrations in the sand...¡±


    Misti still frowned, but she¡¯d calmed down. She was getting thirsty, though, so she went for the leather canteen sticking out of the satchel.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t your horse need water?¡± she wondered. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Is that your way of asking for a break?¡± Virgil retorted his question. Misti wanted to contest, but he looked at her and smiled. He pulled the reins and stopped his horse. ¡°You¡¯re right. Carrot needs a rest.¡±


    Virgil stepped off his horse and helped Misti down. The moment she touched the ground, it felt excruciatingly hot. Thank the gods she had good shoes!


    ¡°You call your horse Carrot?¡± Misti asked, repressing a laugh.


    ¡°Well, he doesn¡¯t look like a Cabbage, now, does he?¡± Virgil smiled while he checked the satchels. ¡°And I thought Bellpepper would be too much.¡±


    Misti giggled loudly. She couldn¡¯t even drink water properly without spilling it everywhere.


    Virgil fetched a small iron bowl from one of the satchels. He placed it by Carrot¡¯s head and filled it with water. Carrot didn¡¯t hesitate and instantly started drinking. Virgil patted his horse¡¯s neck for a little while. When he was done, and Carrot was done, he returned the bowl to the satchel and turned to Misti.


    ¡°Why Kotma Ata?¡± she suddenly asked. The question had popped up in her mind when she¡¯d seen how Virgil behaved with Carrot. He could have a much better life away from here. ¡°Why not somewhere more...peaceful?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s good business here,¡± Virgil replied. His voice didn¡¯t carry much emotion.


    ¡°There¡¯s good business in Tazman. I met a woman with a good business! At least...it looked like it.¡± Misti thought of the tanwar and Marie Trogon¡¯s jewelry. That woman definitely had money.


    ¡°Ailura¡¯s better,¡± Virgil assured.


    Misti wanted to understand, and Virgil¡¯s answers were short and unrevealing. ¡°Why is it better? What could be better?¡±


    ¡°Business.¡±


    ¡°What business?¡±


    ¡°The information business, Misti!¡± Virgil said, annoyed. ¡°Sithrax cities are divided into power-hungry clans. Gang wars happen all the time. And they pay so much money to get the intel we provide.¡±


    So, Virgil made money sponsoring wars? Misti wasn¡¯t sure what she was supposed to think of that. It wasn¡¯t just or justified. Encouraging evil deeds to get money was just that, evil. Virgil seemed to be proud of his work. He¡¯d boasted in front of those sithrax men at the Lion¡¯s Heart. How could someone find pride in war? In incurring death? Virgil had lost his cool now, and watching him get angry felt...musty. She¡¯d better stop asking questions.


    But she had one last thing to say. One last question to ask.


    ¡°Do you sell information on sindurs?¡±


    Virgil frowned. He mounted his horse, turning his back to Misti.


    ¡°Get on,¡± he said, his tone brutal. She knew he wasn¡¯t going to help her.


    A chill ran down Misti¡¯s spine. She struggled but managed to get on Carrot. Once she sat properly, Virgil exhaled deeply. His shoulders relaxed.


    ¡°Of course I don¡¯t compromise sindurs, Miss,¡± Virgil said as he shook his head. He sounded sorry and sincere. ¡°It¡¯s something I would never dream of doing.¡±


    Misti relaxed a little. ¡°Is there a lot of information to sell on sindurs?¡± She was curious because that meant sindurs had something to hide if that was the case. And that meant the sithrax didn¡¯t own the sindurs after all.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Virgil answered, then he seized the reins, clicked his tongue, and Carrot trotted again.


    It was almost dark when they reached the forest. There was a pond right where desert and trees met. Misti instantly jumped off Carrot and plunged her furry head in the water. Carrot pretty much did the same. When she was done, Virgil was still refilling their canteens. Misti looked up to the sky. Stars were already glowing. The jungle ahead was coming alive.


    The temperature had significantly dropped. She could hop and skip comfortably without sweating. She inhaled deeply, catching a whiff of sweet fruit in the air. Her stomach growled.


    She turned to Virgil to ask him what they¡¯d eat tonight but stopped when she gazed past him. Her blue eyes opened wide. What she saw made her jaw drop to her furry feet. Beyond the pond and among the trees stood a tower taller than the dunes. Taller than any dune she¡¯d seen. The tower was round and sturdy and stretched like the column of a giant temple. It was ancient. She could tell because the top of the tower was missing, like a dragon-god had taken a bite of it.


    Five minutes later, they stood at the bottom of the tower. This was the Holy Beacon. There was no point in denying it. It must have been three hundred feet tall in the past. A set of marble stairs in perfect condition led to the gates. They were wide open.


    Misti rushed to the gates, feeling that sort of rush when one was about to win a race. She was here. Misti was finally here. She¡¯d done what had been asked of her. She¡¯d brought the dragon egg to the Tower of Ailura.


    All of a sudden, the ground shook. Misti tripped and fell on all fours. She looked ahead, the gates were closing. What was happening? A curtain of sand fell because of the tremor, blocking her view inside the tower. Once the gates were closed, a bright light exploded inside, raining into the forest through the unglazed windows. And then, a loud, blaring voice boomed from the tower and echoed outside. Misti had to press her pointy ears against her cheeks not to be deafened by the hammering sound.


    ¡°You are not welcome here,¡± the voice said.


    And everything went silent.

 Chapter 8

    Misti freed her ears and turned to Virgil.


    ¡°What in the Heavens is in there?¡± she asked, shouting.


    She was panicked. She was a hundred percent sure there was a dragon in there. It had sounded exactly like she¡¯d imagined dragons sounded like.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Virgil dismissed her.


    He walked to the gates, unmoved, confident. He walked up the steps, passed Misti, and found himself at the tower¡¯s entrance. He pushed the gates open again and stepped inside.


    Why was he so calm about all of this?


    No other sound came out, so the girl-cat eventually followed Virgil into the tower. They stepped into a large circular hall with no ceiling. Two sets of stairs split and coiled all along the tower walls. Above their heads, the moon floated in the sky. It gave them enough light to see ahead.


    Then the light turned into this violent flash. The ground shook again, and this time, the voice that came was ten times louder.


    ¡°Leave!¡± it screamed, and Misti had to cover her ears again.


    She made the greatest effort to stay standing and look around. She wanted to see the source of the voice. She expected a dragon to appear any minute now. Whose voice was it?


    ¡°Hello?¡± she called. ¡°Please, hear us out!¡± She was shouting so loud, her throat hurt.


    ¡°Leave this place! Leave!¡±


    Misti fell to her knees. The tremor was too intense. Virgil was still standing, but he had to hold on to the wall.


    ¡°My name is Misti! I¡¯ve come all the way from Bravoure and followed the Path that has led me here. Please, will you hear me out?¡±


    The tremor stopped. The voice, silenced again, vanished in a whisper. Misti heard footsteps coming from a dark corner. Something walked towards her. It was no dragon. When it came into the light, she saw exactly what it was. Who it was.


    Virgil had spoken of the Blasphemer, and there he was. And he was no sindur. He was no human or elf.


    He was sithrax.


    Misti¡¯s heart skipped a beat. The tall red lizardman wore nothing but a long monk¡¯s tunic tailored to his size. He had a scaled beard, the horns above his eyes were small and rounded. The crest on his head was damaged. He walked slowly but assertively like she¡¯d seen all other sithrax walk in the capital. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    The closer he got, the faster her heart beat. She cowered back quickly, not wanting this giant monster to come closer to her. Her head cocked left and right, looking for Virgil, searching for the exit. She rolled back on all fours and was ready to make a run for it. But the sithrax now stood behind her. She could hear his loud breath. She peered over her shoulder, slowly, quivering, and when she made eye contact with the beast, Misti fainted.


    ***


    When she opened her eyes, Misti did the last thing that had been on her mind: she ran. She had to stop when she realized she had no idea where she was. It was some sort of room with a single window. She¡¯d been placed on a bed underneath a warm blanket. The blanket was on the floor. She could escape through the window but noticed she was at least twenty feet above the ground when she looked over the ledge. She checked the door¡ªthere was no door. Only an opening to some sort of dark corridor. She was still in the tower, though not on the ground floor anymore. Misti returned her attention to the window. She could jump out. She¡¯d land on her paws, and the chance of breaking a leg was low. The girl-cat had to get away.


    Where was Virgil?


    He¡¯d brought her here, to this vile creature that was going to eat her! Why had he brought her here? Where was he?


    Maybe he¡¯d already been eaten!


    ¡°You are awake,¡± a hissing voice said behind her. Though it was quite soft for a hiss.


    Misti instantly spun on her heels. The large sithrax in his robe stood by the room¡¯s entrance. She didn¡¯t want to faint again, so she climbed on the window¡¯s ledge.


    ¡°Wait!¡± the creature shouted. ¡°I do not intend to harm you. I am just...¡± The lizardman held out his hand, his palms and claws open.


    He got closer, and Misti got closer to the edge.


    ¡°Don¡¯t jump! You¡¯re safe here. Not in the jungle, especially not at night.¡±


    Misti veered her head to the lizard. ¡°You ate my friend!¡± she shouted, her eyes shooting darts at him.


    ¡°You mean...me?¡± Virgil¡¯s voice. Virgil stepped into the room. He stood behind the lizardman.


    A wave of relief washed over Misti, she almost got vertigo from it. Then she realized it was actual vertigo. Her head was spinning from the pressure and the void beside her. She quickly jumped off the ledge and back into the room.


    ¡°You see, I mean you no harm,¡± the sithrax said. He made a strange movement with his thin lips and stretched them. Was it a smile? It was so ugly!


    He approached Misti, slowly, hesitant. Perhaps there was something in his eyes that made her relax. Even then, she still stood on her guard, but she would no longer try to escape. The lizardman held something in his hand, which he placed on the ground by her feet. It was her backpack. Next to her backpack, he placed half of a coconut filled with water.


    ¡°You must drink and rest, little one,¡± he said gently. ¡°Tomorrow, we will talk about why you¡¯re here. For now, the night is dark, and you must be exhausted.¡±


    Misti¡¯s eyelids felt heavy as the lizard spoke. He was right, she was tired. Her legs and back were hurting, and the smell of that coconut really distracted her. The sithrax bid her goodnight, then he left the room in silence. Misti wanted to talk to Virgil, to ask him what was happening and who this lizardman was, but he¡¯d followed the creature outside. Misti stood still for a moment. She was all alone again.


    She drained the coconut shell of its water, then used her claws to scrape bits of the flesh. She went to sit on the bed, still holding her coconut. She was ready to eat all of it. She was so hungry, she truly believed she could. But Misti was exhausted, and as she rested her head on the pillow just for a second, she let the sounds of the night rock her to sleep. The thump the coconut made when it fell did not even wake her.

 Chapter 9

    Misti awoke the following day to the smell of bread and honey. She opened her eyes and stretched her body in the bed she¡¯d been given. She remembered exactly where she was, and that alert feeling of danger had not faded away. Still, she¡¯d slept like a kitten nonetheless. Strange... Misti felt some sort of peace here. The birds were singing outside. The wind whistled gently through the tree leaves. And the smell of bread was irresistible.


    Misti¡¯s stomach growled. She collected the piece of coconut that had fallen to the ground. She wanted to eat it, but it had dried up and smelled a little. She placed it on the windowsill and looked outside. All she could see were thick trees under a clear blue sky. The sun shone brightly, the air was hot, the jungle was loud, but it was cool and quiet inside these walls. Misti looked below, she had a direct view of the tower¡¯s entrance. Virgil sat on the steps by the front door. Near him was Carrot who munched some grass. Virgil was fiddling with something she couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°Virgil!¡± Misti called.


    He looked up. Now, she could see what was in his hands. It was some sort of...bird. Virgil released it.


    A crow flew past her window and into the sky. It looked so out of place among the green and blue.


    Virgil was still looking at her, but she couldn¡¯t see the expression on his face. From her point of view, he looked sad.


    How very strange.


    Misti took a few steps back, frowning, then turned around to leave the room. She¡¯d get some food first, then ask Virgil about the crow. She didn¡¯t forget her backpack when she left the room.


    Outside her room was a small platform in an open space leading to stairs that coiled up and down. Misti was on the fifth floor of the tower, and the stairs would immediately lead her down to where she¡¯d been only yesterday, the entrance hall. She followed the steps until she was back on the ground floor. She slowed down right by the last steps because she¡¯d smelled him among the scent of freshly baked bread. The sithrax stood there, in his monk¡¯s robe, further into the large hall. Misti looked in his direction and noticed he stood by a large altar.


    He turned around once she got off the stairs.


    ¡°Good morning,¡± he said calmly. ¡°Did you sleep well?¡± His lips stretched into that ugly smile again.


    ¡°Good...morning,¡± Misti stuttered anxiously. ¡°I... Yes.¡±


    He walked towards her. ¡°I have bread and honey for your breakfast. I hope it¡¯s enough.¡± His Common was perfect, even if it had a slight hiss to it.


    The lizardman led her to an archway right beneath the stairs. The path led to a collection of rooms with no doors. A pantry, a kitchen, a prayer room. It ended in a large hall with stone benches and tables in perfect rows.


    ¡°My name is Juniu,¡± the sithrax said as they walked. ¡°The human tells me your name is Misti?¡±


    Misti nodded. She wanted to ask him why he was here and what in the gods¡¯ names a sithrax was doing in the oldest sindur temple. She wanted answers. Now. ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡±


    Juniu led Misti to a table before answering, ¡°I follow the Path. The Path has led me here. And it seems that it¡¯s what has brought you here too.¡±


    The Path was the sindur¡¯s way of calling one¡¯s journey to fulfillment. Sindurs were driven towards achieving fulfillment by relinquishing pain. They strived towards the absence of suffering. A life must be lived to seek fulfillment and make peace with one¡¯s own death. Regeneration was a way for sindur to prepare for when true death came. Juniu was sithrax. Fulfillment should mean nothing to him. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    And yet, it seemed to.


    Juniu served the girl-cat a clay plate of toasted bread covered in delicious-smelling honey. She thanked him with a bow of the head, and he took a seat opposite her. Misti wasn¡¯t sure if she should start eating. Maybe he¡¯d poisoned the honey.


    ¡°I can assure you, you are safe here,¡± he said, almost like he¡¯d read her mind. ¡°You have nothing to fear, especially not from me or from my bees.¡±


    His bees? Misti was too hungry to let her fear control her. She took a bite of honey toast and instantly melted from the taste. It was the best honey she¡¯d ever tasted.


    ¡°I was a clan¡¯s general before I came here,¡± Juniu began. His tone was turning wistful by the words. ¡°I fought wars and whatnot. I owned slaves.¡±


    Misti almost spat her toast upon hearing the word slave. Had she even heard it correctly? Fear rushed through her blood but was quickly replaced by strange, vindictive anger. Her gaze went cold.


    Juniu took a deep breath. ¡°There¡¯s no good pretending to be something I¡¯m not. I acknowledge what I¡¯ve done. Now, I must follow the Path to fulfillment.¡± Misti realized Juniu wasn¡¯t wistful. It was guilt she heard through his words. ¡°I left my old life behind when I came here. I studied everything there was to study in this ancient place. The wisdom kept within these walls is liberating.¡±


    Misti¡¯s anger dimmed. The more Juniu spoke, the more she wanted to listen. A sithrax following the sindur ways. How...unfathomable.


    ¡°You have come here for this,¡± Juniu said, pointing at Misti¡¯s backpack with a motion of the hand. ¡°This is proof of all I¡¯ve tried to understand.¡±


    The girl-cat frowned slightly. ¡°Proof?¡± What did the lizard mean by proof?


    ¡°That it¡¯s all true,¡± he said. ¡°Finish your breakfast, little one. Then come to the altar. I have so many things to show you.¡±


    Misi carried her backpack by the handle all the way to the altar. Surrounding the altar were walls carved with very detailed artwork, scriptures, and schematics of some sort. It created a stone matrix that told the entire history of the Holy Beacon, from its construction to its worship. After briefly examining the art, Misti looked at Juniu expectantly. Was he finally going to shed some light on why the voice had led her here?


    ¡°You are one of the Wistful Sisters, correct?¡± Juniu asked. He continued after Misti nodded. ¡°Your convent was tasked with protecting the sindur legacy. Part of this legacy is, as you know, the Siyliq, the gift you were given by the gods.¡±


    ¡°How do you know about all this?¡± Misti asked.


    ¡°This was once your home,¡± Juniu said with a soft hiss. ¡°The Wistful Sisters used to walk this place before¡ª¡±


    ¡°Before you came,¡± Misi interrupted, almost hissing herself. ¡°Before the sithrax banished us. Before you exterminated us.¡± She paused, breathing loudly. ¡°Will you finally tell me why I¡¯m here?¡±


    Misti¡¯s teachings were about compassion and calm, but charity was no longer part of her after what she¡¯d seen in the capital. Why would the voice in her dreams have led her to this place if this filthy lizardman was here?


    ¡°I was going to ask you the same question,¡± Juniu said.


    ¡°I thought you knew!¡± Misti shouted. ¡°You said the egg was proof of something.¡± The lizardman wasn¡¯t saying anything. ¡°Well, what is it proof of?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s proof that Ailura can be saved,¡± Juniu declared.


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m here! To bring it back so the gods can return. You¡¯re not telling me anything new.¡±


    Juniu leaned on the altar, silent. His gaze wandered the carvings on this square block of solid clay. Then, he swept some of the dust off the altar.


    ¡°Take a look,¡± he said softly.


    Misti was angry and curious at the same time. She walked to the altar and glanced at where Juniu was looking.


    ¡°What do you see?¡± he asked.


    ¡°A god.¡±


    Juniu shook his head. ¡°Well, yes and no. It¡¯s also something else.¡±


    ¡°What is it then?¡±


    ¡°A Birdman.¡±

 Chapter 10

    ¡°The birdmen arrived on Ailura when sindurs could barely stand on two feet,¡± Juniu said. ¡°The scriptures reference winged creatures castaway on the southern shores after a fierce storm. One of these birdmen, their queen, carried a golden egg. The sindurs, primitive yet kind and generous, helped the birdmen. They gave them food and shelter. They became friends. In return, the birdmen helped sindurs build a society.¡±


    Misti walked beside Juniu as he showed her the painted walls of the crypt under the tower. He carried a torch in one hand, a book in the other. One fresco depicted the arrival of the birdmen, winged creatures with the face of birds and the body of men, rising from the sea as the clouds vanished. The next fresco showed men-lynx without clothes bringing fruit baskets to the birdmen.


    ¡°The birdmen had powers never seen before. Some of the old texts here mention they could form deep, empathic connections with their subjects. They could touch the sky, move forests, harness the power of the sun. Were they indeed gods? Maybe.¡± Juniu shrugged. ¡°But I cannot deny that they meant so much for sindur development.¡±


    The next mural showed the tower¡¯s construction guided by winged creatures with a halo as a crest. Misti couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of it. She¡¯d never seen portrayals of the sindur gods, only descriptions in texts. Seeing them on these walls was like unraveling an ancient mystery.


    ¡°Do you doubt they were gods?¡± Misti asked, brushing her paw against a god¡¯s halo. ¡°If you follow our ways, wouldn¡¯t that be heresy?¡±


    Juniu chuckled. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt their power. But I was raised with sithrax beliefs. I am acquainted with the traditional draconic pantheon. I chose to follow the Path for sindur philosophy, not for its gods.¡±


    Juniu stopped walking by the last fresco at the end of the corridor. It was a birdman, or woman, giving a sindur in full armor a large egg. The egg. Misti opened her eyes wide. It was definitely the same scaled golden egg she¡¯d been carrying with her all along. Was it that old? Now that she saw the sindur gods up close, one question suddenly popped into her mind.


    Was it even a dragon egg?


    ¡°The book speaks of the moment when the birdmen needed to return home,¡± Juniu continued his story. ¡°They had spent decades, possibly centuries with the sindurs at the dawn of time. They were needed back wherever they came from.


    ¡°It pained the Birdqueen to leave. She left Ailura with sorrow in her heart, but she swore a solemn oath. She made her sindur friends the promise that she would one day return. She gave them the egg, the gift that sealed the deal. I think it was more than a promise.¡±


    Misti turned her head to Juniu. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve spent my share of time studying the paintings and scriptures, the thousands of books here, in this tower. I don¡¯t think the egg was a guarantee of the birdmen¡¯s return. I think it was to protect Ailura.¡±


    Misti frowned. But it had failed, hadn¡¯t it? She began to question why she was even here. All the egg had done was create a task and a mystery for the Wistful Sisters to solve. Misti was disappointed. The girl-cat had hoped for a clear solution, the egg hatching, or some sort of holy return of the gods from the skies. She¡¯d not expected to learn about this centuries-old promise that had failed. Why did she have to bring it back here anyway? Was it magically supposed to hatch now, or what?


    ¡°You say you heard a voice?¡± Juniu asked, interrupting her thoughts.


    Misti hesitated. He seemed to take her seriously when she¡¯d told him about her dreams by the altar.


    ¡°I did,¡± she murmured.


    ¡°What did it say exactly?¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    The girl-cat shrugged. ¡°That I had to bring the dragon egg here. That the gods will join the sindurs and free Ailura, something like that. It wasn¡¯t always clear, and it was more of a song rather than a phrase.¡±


    Juniu¡¯s gaze returned to the fresco. ¡®Look at this. Do you see the sindur in armor who accepts the egg? Look at his weapon.¡±


    Misti squinted. ¡°It¡¯s just a sword.¡±


    ¡°Look closer.¡±


    Misti leaned forward to examine the image. Then she saw it. A subtle detail that was invisible when standing a few inches away from the wall. The sindur, black as night, held a feather in his hand, not a sword. Misti¡¯s eyes rounded in surprise. When she turned back to Juniu, he was smiling proudly.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a weapon,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a key. I believe the feather in this sindur¡¯s hand is the missing piece.¡±


    Misti wanted to say something, to ask who this black sindur on the wall was, but rattling upstairs caught her attention. There were footsteps, heavy ones, coming from above. Juniu hadn¡¯t heard them yet.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, noticing her slight distress.


    Misti didn¡¯t say a thing because she knew exactly what was coming. Those were definitely sithrax footsteps, and they were coming closer and closer. Now, Juniu could hear them too. His smile faded, and he seized something from under his tunic. It was a jagged dagger.


    Misti rushed up the stairs behind Juniu. As soon as they reached the entrance hall, a dozen armed lizardmen surrounded them. Juniu didn¡¯t seem scared, but then again, Misti couldn¡¯t read him so well. They exchanged words with him, violent ones. The ground trembled every time they spoke. Juniu held his arm firmly above Misti to sign that he would protect her no matter the cost.


    Virgil appeared into view. He leaned against the wall, his hands in his pocket. He didn¡¯t look in their direction.


    ¡°Virgil!¡± Misti called. She wanted his help. If a fight was about to start, they¡¯d need every help they could get. Juniu could not take all these sithrax on his own.


    Virgil simply ignored her. What was wrong with him?


    The lizards drew their swords. Juniu spat another few threatening words and then, silence.


    ¡°Cover your ears,¡± he whispered to Misti.


    Misti complied. There was no time to ask why.


    Juniu closed his eyes and marched to the assailants. His red scales began to glow. A bright halo burst from his head and invaded the air.


    The ground began to shake, and Juniu¡¯s voice was ten times louder.


    So, that was where the voice from the start had come from. Misti recognized it now, seeing Juniu in action.


    It was the cleric¡¯s spell of the gods¡¯ wrath.


    His voice sent the sithrax flying. They blasted out through the walls with the shockwave, and the tower began to shake. Juniu then turned around and pointed at the altar with his hand. No, it wasn¡¯t at the altar, it was at the wall behind it. His eyes lit up, and the wall was raised by an invisible force. Misti could see the jungle through the opening.


    ¡°Run,¡± Juniu shouted, catching the girl-cat¡¯s attention once again.


    ¡°What about you?¡± Misti asked, still covering her ears.


    There wasn¡¯t much time. The sithrax were already standing up, and they were about to charge. Where was Virgil?


    ¡°I will protect this place!¡± Juniu roared. ¡°You must find the missing piece. It is Ailura¡¯s only hope!¡±


    The tremor grew stronger. Misti had to leave now, or she¡¯d be pinned to the ground. But she couldn¡¯t leave like this, not without a clue as to where to go next. The feather? Should she find that feather from the painting? How could she find it if she didn¡¯t even know where it could be?


    Misti ran to Juniu instead of the exit.


    ¡°Who was the black sindur?¡± she asked urgently, her paws grabbing onto his arm.


    Juniu had rage and fear in his eyes, Misti could see that clearly. He was putting all his faith in Misti now, and he was going to stay here and fight. Misti was sure he wouldn¡¯t make it out of here alive.

 Chapter 11

    Into Juniu¡¯s free hand grew a spark, and the spark extended into a holy staff that he firmly held. He stared into Misti¡¯s eyes one last time before striking his assailants.


    ¡°His name was Korlel,¡± Juniu said decisively. ¡°He was one of the first warriors of Ailura.¡±


    That was information she had absolutely no use for, but Misti had to go on with it. She had to find a way to use it. She turned around, ready to hurry out of the tower.


    Juniu turned his back to her. ¡°Don¡¯t search for a lost feather!¡± he shouted over his shoulder. ¡°Misti, you must find the birdmen. Only they can help. Now go!¡±


    The earth shook again. Misti rushed through the opening, and the wall collapsed right behind her. She ran into the jungle as far away as she could. As far away as possible from the collapsing Holy Beacon. She was about to take a sharp left into the deeper jungle when someone latched onto her backpack. She was lifted up in the air and placed on a galloping horse. It was Carrot. And Virgil.


    Misti shrieked. ¡°What in the name of¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hush, Miss, we need to leave!¡± Virgil shouted.


    He clacked the reins of his horse. Misti struggled, throwing her fists and kicking the air.


    ¡°What happened?¡± she shouted. ¡°Why did you do nothing? Who were these men?¡± She hissed and spat as she asked ten more of these questions.


    She calmed down when Virgil wasn¡¯t reacting. Eventually, the sun started setting, and they left the jungle.


    ***


    Virgil made a fire while Carrot was silently looking at the horizon. Misti sat on the sand, hugging her knees, shivering. Her backpack rested beside her, the dragon egg still in it.


    What had this all been for? Coming here, all this way, for what? Sure, Juniu at the tower had given her some information to continue, but where would she go next? Everything had just happened so fast. She¡¯d been so reckless. Mother Superior would be so angry when she¡¯d return. Even more so since she would, empty-handed. Something in her stomach made her sick. Juniu was probably dead now, what was she supposed to do?


    Find the birdmen.


    Juniu¡¯s words echoed in her mind. Find the gods. But how? Where was she supposed to start?


    ¡°Don¡¯t make that face,¡± Virgil said out of the blue.


    ¡°Where were you?¡± Misti asked, canceling his words, her tone inquisitive. ¡°Why did you do nothing when the sithrax attacked?¡±


    Virgil sighed. ¡°What could I have done? A single thief against a gang of giant lizards? My best escape was to comply.¡± He spoke without showing a hint of emotion.


    ¡°I want to go home,¡± Misti pouted. She realized this fact the minute she said it out loud. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    Her mission had failed. Or rather, it could not be completed here. Where was she supposed to find gods? She could research Korlel, the mysterious black sindur with the feather. Maybe his trail would lead back to the birdmen, but what then? Misti couldn¡¯t survive in Kotma Ata for more than a day, and that was where all the sindur knowledge ever produced was. Virgil was behaving so very strangely. Could she still count on him?


    ¡°We¡¯ll be back in the capital in the morning,¡± Virgil said. ¡°Now, get some sleep.¡±


    ¡°Why are you acting so weird?¡± Misti asked him. She looked at him dead in the eye. ¡°Who were these men who attacked us?¡± A thought crossed her mind and sent chills down her spine. Could Virgil have something to do with the attack?


    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he simply said.


    ¡°You trade in information, but you don¡¯t know anything?¡± Virgil ignored her, so Misti continued. ¡°They were sithrax guards, but there¡¯s no city or village around here! They must have followed us, or someone sent them.¡±


    ¡°Get some sleep, Misti.¡±


    She stood up, knocking her backpack over. ¡°No! I came all this way here to save the sindurs, and all I got was another mission that makes no sense!¡±


    Misti¡¯s voice had broken. Tears gathered in her blue eyes. She felt desperate because there was something else she had not yet admitted. Another reason why she didn¡¯t want to go to sleep. The voice, the one that had sent her down this path, had gone silent. She no longer felt the presence of the song saying she¡¯d save the world.


    ¡°Just go home. Be glad you¡¯re still alive,¡± Virgil uttered.


    ¡°Why are you avoiding my question?¡±


    Another thought rang in her head. A chilling ring. Had Virgil led those lizardmen to the tower?


    Virgil wasn¡¯t answering, but his gaze changed. A golden glimmer showed up in his eyes. He looked straight at Misti, then at her hands, at the glimmer¡¯s source.


    Her hands were glowing again.


    Virgil¡¯s shoulders relaxed. She could read him now. There was a slight hint of regret in the features of his face. He was doing his best to hide it.


    What had he done?


    ¡°I¡¯ll go home, and I¡¯ll thank the gods for keeping me alive, not you,¡± Misti said. She wanted to reach out to him next, to prick at the guilt she could read. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happening to you, but you have many things to figure out.¡±


    Virgil said nothing. He simply looked away.


    Misti sighed and curled up into a ball on the sand. The air was cold, so she covered herself with her cloak. She squeezed her backpack against her chest and closed her eyes. She heard Virgil go to sleep a good hour later.


    ***


    It was noon when they reached the busiest square of the Gutter. Misti and Virgil were back in the capital, walking through the crowded streets. He was taking her to the Lion¡¯s Heart, where she¡¯d wait until the evening for a boat back to the mainland. Virgil knew someone who knew a captain who¡¯d be headed to Sud, Bravoure. He¡¯d arrange a spot on that ship for her.


    Misti would go home and figure out what she¡¯d do next. She hadn¡¯t made up her mind yet what she¡¯d tell Mother Superior. The old woman-lynx would ground Misti, that was sure, but Misti didn¡¯t care. The Siy was still safe, that was all that mattered. Misti would use the opportunity to research the text again, find references to Korlel or the gods¡¯ home. If she was to find the birdmen, the said sindur gods, maybe there was something in the temple of the Wistful Sisters she could use.


    Virgil stopped walking. Misti was gazing at the ground, so she didn¡¯t know what had stopped her companion. When she raised her head, she realized why. Two sithrax in brown and red armor, weapons brandished, scowled her down. Misti looked at Virgil, incredulous. He smiled at her, and a crow landed on his shoulder. After a split second of wonder, she knew why those lizardmen were here. She knew exactly what Virgil had done.


    She heard Juniu¡¯s voice in her head before they made a move.


    Run.