Dragonlands(195)

"Were you born human or dragon?" Tressa asked. "I mean, if it's not too personal to ask."

"Not at all. I was born a dragon. I am the great-niece of the highest-ranking dragon in the Charred Barrens. My father was born a dragon. Yet, there are many, many humans living underground with us. We feed them. Protect them from harm. It's very peaceful. I think you'll like it here. Now close your eyes for a second. The light from the flame can be jarring."

Tressa did as she was told. She could still see the warm orange glow through her closed eyelids. Slowly she opened her eyes to the light in the cave. Her hand slipped out of Fi's, and Tressa ran her fingers along the cave wall.

Pictographs dotted the walls. Dragons stood with men against giant beasts she didn't recognize, the beasts slashed with red. Further on the dragons and men stood in triumph. "It's beautiful. Who drew these?"

"Once, long ago, the dragons stood as equals with man. We protected them and they worked in harmony with us."

"But all of the realms are ruled by dragons." Tressa thought of Jacinda, Queen of the Yellow in Risos. Of Stacia, the Queen of the Blue, whom Tressa had defeated in battle. She knew the Red Queen ruled over the north. Another likely ruled in the Meadowlands.

"It wasn't always that way." Fi motioned for Tressa to follow her deeper into the cave. "Some realms were ruled by men. Some by dragons. Sometimes they shared the throne. That was the case here for a very long time. My great-uncle was elected by the people here to be their ruler. He did not take the throne by force, as has been the case with the other realms."

Tressa followed Fi’s light through the caves. Strangely, she felt her energy returning. As if the caves themselves were healing her.

"It's not much farther now," Fi said. "We're almost there. I do have to warn you, though. People will be expecting you. We are a friendly realm. No one fears another, so people will not hesitate to approach you."

"As long as they welcome me and don't fear me..." Tressa said, thinking of her bloody tears and partial wings.

Fi laughed. "They won't. Trust me." She stopped just outside an opening in the rocky walls. "Ready?"

Tressa nodded. She wasn't, but there was no point in putting it off any longer. Balling her fists, she followed Fi into the cavern.





Chapter Six


Tressa stood on a precipice. Her eyes grew wide. Below her was a city. Buildings, some more than ten levels tall, sprouted from the ground. Streets were filled with vendors and customers going about their daily business. Children played in a green park, their mothers watching over them. Beyond the small city she could see farmland, cattle grazing and pigs rooting.

"What?" It was the best she could formulate.

Fi grinned. "I told you we had a whole community down here. You didn't believe me."

"I did," Tressa said, "but on this scale? I hadn't thought it possible underground."

"This is a large cave system. You're looking at the largest portion."

"You mean there's more?" Tressa asked. How could there be? This chamber alone was bigger than Hutton's Bridge. Her town had hundreds of villagers. There had to be thousands here.

"Oh yes. This is just the first cavern. There are ten beyond this place."

"Ten?" Tressa knew she sounded like a bird that repeated its master's words. Still, she couldn't manage to formulate a more intelligent thought.

"We are headed to the third. It is my home. It's where the healers will see you, and hopefully figure out a quick solution to your problem. Let's keep moving. You may be feeling a bit better, but I have no doubt you will quickly tire out again."

They walked away from the overlook, continuing down the path. Fi stopped at a fork in the passageway. Three openings stood in front of them. Fi banked to the right. "You didn't feel sick to your stomach riding on me, right?"

"No. I was okay. Why?" Tressa asked.

"We have to take another little ride to my home."

"You aren't the first dragon I've ridden. I'll be okay doing it again."

Fi shook her head. "No, you're not riding on me this time. We're going in this." Fi cocked her fingers, and Tressa followed her through an opening. A small wooden cart with four wheels sat on two iron rails, which snaked over the ground and disappeared around a corner. "I don't understand."

Fi climbed into the cart. "We sit in this. Then I pull this lever." She pointed to a bar on the side of the cart. "Then the fun starts. Join me."

Tressa shrugged and clambered into the cart. So they were going to ride in a little cart. It didn't seem scary. "What will pull us? An animal of some kind?"