Fire So Cold It Burns Chapter Nine

Part X

When Zorron’s horrific death had come and gone, I could think of nothing but Zorron. When I felt a hand on my shoulder, I looked up to see Father. He was looking at me with the saddest eyes. Father knelt down next to me and wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sorry love, I wish I could do more.” He whispered to me. I sobbed and leaned into my father. It seemed so long ago that he wanted to kill me and Lucy, now he was the same father he was before Mother died. We sat like that for a long time, unmoved and unaware of the time that passed. Lucy had walked over and joined our embrace. Time seemed to pause, all was quiet…all was still. 

We were like this when Selena flew down from her perch. “My dear, you’ve done it.” She told me. I looked at her confused, “Wh…what do you mean?” I sobbed. Selena smiled, “You have brought peace between our races…look.” She pointed with her snout to our audience of soldiers. When I saw the soldiers I realized they looked upset. The nearest soldier…he was a general, came forward. “My lady, we had no idea…we apologize…we were only following the king’s orders.” He stampered. “Ya, well now you know that King Castio has filled your heads…all of our heads with lies and nonsense!!” I growled. “The dragons were never the killers…King Castio only had the dragons killed so he could have their hides and provide himself with their wealth. King Castio is a greedy jerk… he’s just like every other snot selfish…greedy old pigs king before him.” I finished. The soldiers hung their heads in sorrow and anger. I realized that the dragons were close…very close to freedom! Suddenly from within the crowd a soldier cried, “Down with the dirty old bastard, who we thought to be our king!” the soldier’s cried began to ripple out through the crowd, and within minutes everyone was shouting curses to their king. I smiled, though I was still crying inside for Zorron.

When all was silent, Selena spoke. “For her great courage and bravery, I, Selena, goddess of the dragons, award this human child…Korah with a gift like no other.” She called to the crowd. Selena lowered her head so her eyes were level with mine. Selena blew a smoke ring. The smoke suddenly started to form a funnel, spinning faster and faster. The smoke funnel got larger, it moved over to cover Zorron’s still body. The smoke funnel suddenly began to get smaller, until it was the size of a large dog. When the smoke disappeared, a small green dragon lay in place of Zorron (who had disappeared). The dragon resembled a smaller version of Zorron. I gasped as the small dragon twitched and opened its eyes. I knelt beside the dragon and held it in my arm. The dragon was a girl. “Go on Korah…name her.” Selena encouraged me. I didn’t have to think long. 

I thought of my mother, and how close Zorron had resembled her. So I named the little dragon after my mother… “I’ll call her Tiffany.” I said. And with that, a dragon revolution began!