Ravencrest was a small outpost seven miles southeast of Stormhall in Geneval. The small stone fortress sat on a cliff overlooking a steep canyon. A large field of grass surrounded the fortress on three sides serving as a practice ground for the local militia. In the sparse moonlight the field offered no cover for the dragons so they landed at the base of the canyon.

As soon as they landed Fel took Bird aside. “Wow, flying is so amazing I’m so envious of your dragons.”

She rolled her eyes.

“They’re not my dragons. Look, just stay out of my way, I haven’t gotten over the fact that your lover tried to kill me several hours ago.” Fel took a step back and bowed to Bird.

“My apologies milady.” Bird sighed and walked away. Lore watched her before approaching Fel.

“Women troubles?” he asked with a mischievously lilt to his voice. “I would be careful of Apple if I were you.”

“Apple?” Lore pointed to Apple who was helping to erect tents in the lee of fallen rocks. The noble nodded in understanding. “Rather odd name for a dragon, can’t really say it suits him.” Lore laughed.

“Bird nicknamed him. You should get some sleep; you’ll share a tent with Elys and myself. Don’t be put off by his temper, he dislikes all humans, most of all witches.”

“Oh, well that shouldn’t be a problem; I’m not too fond of other humans myself.” Lore chuckled and slapped Fel on the back so hard he made the man stumble.

“I think I’ll enjoy this.” Fel raised a questioning eyebrow but did not answer.

***

A week after leaving Ravencrest a summer storm formed, grounding them. They made camp in a small pine wood and Lore created a barrier between the trees to keep out the rain and cut down on the wind. He had Bird watch him create the spell so she could practice it in a future lesson.

As they settled down to wait Bird opened her mother’s book. The book despite its normal appearance on the outside it was very unusual. Depending on the day or what she was reading the book could have more or less pages, chapters often disappearing or changing order. She found that if she opened the book with an idea in mind the book would have chapters pertaining only to that subject and its more advance theories

From these pages Bird had learned about her powers and the world around her, but some things the book would not let her read, the chapters never appearing no matter how many times she opened the book. Apple and Lore had begun a ritual of reading over Bird’s shoulder as she slowly leafed through the book, sometimes explaining ideas she found hard to understand.

“Well isn’t this cozy,” Fel remarked as he watched the three giggling over a joke Lore had made. All three looked up, the dragons still smiling, Bird frowning. Apple nudged her shoulder so she gave the noble a half smile. “Why are you three always reading that book? May I see it?” Bird handed the book to him smirking. Fel flipped through the pages then handed it back confused. “What kind of language is that? I’ve never seen that alphabet before.”

Apple answered him. “It’s the first language. Most humans have forgotten it. If you’d like, I can have someone tutor you when we reach Uler.” Fel raised his hands and shook his head.

“I’m passed my schooling days. My instructors would have a bad turn if I tried to learn anything other than war.” Fel gave them a parting smile and went to lounge at the edge of the camp. Apple nudged Bird again and she glared at him. The dragon nodded toward the noble.

“You should go talk to him,” he said.

“I’d rather not. I don’t see why we even brought him along. We should have left him in Ravencrest. Ow!” Lore leaped away before Bird had a chance to swat him. “Why’d you pinch me?”

“I pinched you because a nitwit sometimes needs a good pinch. I’m Fel’s Holy Guardian,” Lore said. Bird looked confused for a moment as the words sunk in.

“I thought you were joking. When did that happen?”

“When I rescued him on the street; I had heard his soul cry out for help then responded without question. A Drakir responds to the call of the desperate without hesitation; it was what we were created for. Drakon on the other hand have a different duty.”

“What’s a Drakon?” The word was as unfamiliar to her as Drakir had been when she first met Apple.

“Among the dragons there is a hierarchy. Drakir are the lowest. We have the most interaction among humans and act as guardians. Drakon are above us and are responsible for the caretaking of the world. Durag are the highest and take care of the world beyond. The Old One is a Durag, my grandmother is a Drakon while I am Drakir.”

“It's confusing how you call yourselves Drakir, but the lowest of you are also called Drakir. How are these hierarchies determined?”

“By birth mostly, but we can change as needed. Both Adwin and Yena are Drakon for they possess great wisdom and Yena has the ability to heal. They can choose who they want to protect.” Lore drew closer and picked up the book Bird had discarded on the ground. He opened it then turned it around to show her the images that stood out on two pages. On the far left she saw four dragons in the four different stages of age, in the middle were four more dragons but these had horns and two more heads. On the far right were four dragons with six wings and four heads. Bird touched the beautiful images then jumped as they began to move about on the page flying and breathing fire. She briefly glanced at Yena and Adwin who sat close together composing more music.

“Why do they not have horns and two heads?”

“They have not had the need to appear in their most holy manifestation. If you should ever see them as that, then there is catastrophic danger near,” Apple answered. He stood, drawing Bird to her feet. “You are trying to create a distraction. Go and talk to Fel.” Bird frowned and crossed her arms.

“You’re only making me because I’m the only other human here.”

“And closest to his age,” Lore added smiling. Bird turned her frown on him and he stumbled back clapping a hand over his heart. “Oh, you’ve wounded me with that dagger of a glare! Please spare me Briar.”

“Oh hush! Fine, I’ll go talk to him to shush you two hens.” Bird took her book from Lore and stomped over to Fel. The noble glanced up in surprise as she unceremoniously dropped down on the damp grass beside him. “Hello,” she mumbled to him as she placed the book neatly on her lap.

“Hello?” Fel pushed his hair back from his face. This was the first time Bird had come near him. Normally she was with the younger dragons. He watched her fidget with her skirt avoiding his eyes. Finally he broke the silence. “So, how long have you traveled with the dragons?” Bird looked up surprised. Fel smiled at her innocence before it faded from her eyes.

“I…we’ve been traveling together for a little over a month now. Apple rescued me from a Hunter, Oliver Redfield.”

“I’ve met him, bit on the quiet side and distant.”

“You know him?” Bird felt her heart throwing itself against her ribs in fear. Was Fel a Seeker?

“Calm down, I do not work with Hunters. They show up in the city from time to time to spread the holy word and inquire about strange phenomena. Occasionally they find a Witch. Sometimes there are public burnings other times they simply leave the city.”

“They… they have public burnings in Stormhall?”

Fel nodded. “The last one was before I was born. They haven’t found a new witch in several years.” Bird looked down at her feet thinking of the town square of Woodbridge as all of its citizens had gathered to watch her family die. She closed her eyes and blocked out the images. She did not have time to mourn the dead; she had to focus on becoming strong enough to save Nettie.

“You probably think I hate you with how I’ve been acting,” Bird said quietly. “But that’s not true, I was still angry over that kiss, and being kidnapped by your lover.”

Fel smiled kindly. “You have every right to be angry with me. I took advantage of you as did Ilyse and Tristen. I can only hope you can forgive her and me for our transgression.”

“I can do that if you promise not to kiss me again.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, I wouldn’t want to anger your beau again.” Bird felt her heart leap as Fel called Apple her beau. She knew it would never be true, but the association brought her comfort.

“Apple is my guardian and nothing more. He acts more like a father than anything else.”

“As you say,” Fel said shrugging. “Though you look at him otherwise.” Bird smacked his knee and he laughed. “Don’t worry your secret is safe with me.”

“It’s embarrassing,” Bird whispered to him. “He’s a holy creature that will outlive me and I have a child’s infatuation with him. If I said anything he’d probably give me a lecture or something.” Bird snuck a glance at Apple and noticed that he was watching her. Her heart skipped a beat as he turned his attention back to Lore. She looked down at her book. “I’m sure I’ll find someone to love me as I am. Maybe I’ll find a nice witch and settle down.”

Fel snorted. “I don’t see why a nice girl like you would choose a witch. They’re demons.” Bird stiffened. Fel still did not know Bird was a witch. She had been careful to never practice magic in front of him and still held her predawn lessons in the old storage room.

“Well, your daughter could be a witch since her uncle was,” Bird said cattily. Fel grunted.

“If she is a witch I will still love her, same as I love her mother despite the possibility. I will do anything in my power to protect them.” He sighed and looked up at the barrier Lore had created. “Besides, I’ve grown accustomed to magic. I believe over time the ideas of witches ingrained into me by society will fade.” Bird smiled at his heartfelt words. A world where witches could live in harmony with everyone else was a special dream she kept close to her heart. Her mother had wanted such a world.

Apple glanced at Bird again, his mind wandering away from Lore. “Hey, don’t tell me I’ve gotten boring,” Lore pouted. He punched Apple in the arm.

“No, I’m just thinking of what those two over there are talking about.” The dragon’s superior hearing allowed him to hear every word they said. “Bird… likes me…”

Lore snorted.

“So what, she said it was a child’s infatuation. She’s looking for Witch Charming who can spell his way out of danger and give her three strong boys.” Apple arched his eyebrow while Lore tried to look innocent. “I wouldn’t mind seeing you two together, but you have your plate full.” Apple rolled his eyes.

“Please don’t start this again. Make up your mind damn it.”

Lore smiled. “I have, but it’s fun to tease you two when you’re together. If you want my honest opinion, I like Briar and I won’t feel mad if you break a promise in order to be with her.” Apple sighed and shook his head.

“You’re still young Lore, younger than I and Bird younger still. What is best for her is to be with another human. As my cousin I hope you support my wishes to keep her at arm’s length.”

Lore leaned back and looked up at the stormy sky. “Leave her there too long you won’t be able to grab her when she leaves.”

***

On the eve of the summer solstice they reached the Hundred Forest of Tears. The land was a system of intersecting rivers and waterfalls. In the center of these rivers were islands filled with trees. The noise of thousands of gallons of water plummeting into pools and rivers hundreds of feet below was near deafening. A permanent mist rose over the land obscuring what lay beyond its boundaries. Bird looked on in awe as she clung to Apple as they glided over the first of the waterfalls, the journey taking several minutes before land was beneath them. In the mist she could just make out the other dragons as they rode the currents of wind coming from falls. By nonverbal consensus the dragons landed on the edge of the falls and retreated into the thick cover of trees. The wood helped to dampen the sound of the falls by only a fraction.

“So this forest is made up of waterfalls and rivers?” Bird asked as Lore created a sound barrier. She rubbed her ears as they began to ring.

“Yes, all of the rivers converge here some joining others to become lakes before finally reaching the sea. Many humans avoid it because of the treacherous and unpredictable landscape. This area is prone to flooding and not ideal travel for boats or land bound creatures. Mostly birds live here,” Apple said.

“Hear that Briar, you could call this home,” Lore said nudging her.

“Ha, ha, it’s too wet here for me.”

“We’ll make camp here today and continue on tomorrow,” Apple continued not to be interrupted. “Everyone knows their duties so get them done fast and tomorrow we will be in Uler.” Bird felt a thrill from the thought of seeing the dragon city; she could finally see where Apple was born. She could finally begin the next part of her training within Uler.

She did not know when she fell asleep.

Oliver Redfield stood in front of Nettie holding her face. If Bird did not know better she would have thought he was about to kiss her. The Hunter was mumbling something under his breath while the girl stared intently without blinking. A symbol formed in the air between then disappeared beneath the skin of Nettie’s forehead. She closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened them again they seemed distant and unfocused for several seconds.

“Nettie, who killed your family?” Oliver asked.

“My cousin, Lavender Blackbriar.”

“Why did she kill them?”

“Because she’s a witch and fears the Bright Ones.”

“Who saved you?”

“The holy servant of Hexa, Oliver Redfield.”

“Why did I save you?”

“Because you saw innocence and purity beneath the evilness of my sin.”

“What is your sin?”

“I am a witch born with the dark powers of the Evil One who invaded the kingdom of Heaven in jealousy to overthrow Lun and Hexa.”

“Can your powers ever be purified?”

“Only if I die in the fires of Heaven and am born anew.”

“Are you willing to be born anew?”

Nettie paused for a moment and stared passed Oliver’s shoulder at Bird. Suddenly Bird’s cheek flared in pain and she doubled over. “She’s here again. Do you wish for me to reveal her so you can purify her?” Nettie said leaving Oliver’s grip to stand closer to Bird.

“No, you must be the one this time. You must show your loyalty to us.” Oliver’s face remained without emotion as he handed a dagger to Nettie. A wild look filled the girl’s eyes and she gripped the handle with both hands and raised it over Bird’s neck. In a fluid motion she brought the dagger down and Bird dodged the stroke, but not without injury. Blood dripped from her ear as she backed away from Nettie.

“Nettie, please don’t listen to him! I’m your cousin, your flesh and blood. You must escape,” Bird yelled as Nettie lunged again this time nicking the palm of Bird’s hand.

“This child has repented her evil, she will hear your lies no more,” Redfield said placing a hand Nettie’s shoulder. The girl looked up at him with gentleness almost like adoration. She smiled at him before turning her attention back to Bird, her eyes quickly going cold. She lunged again and Bird tripped over her feet in her haste to get away and landed hard on her elbow. Grunting in pain she scooted backwards on her hands and feet until she hit a wall. Hunter and girl flanked her cutting off escape in the room they occupied.

“Apple!” Bird yelled, not knowing if the dragon could hear her.

“Quickly before she summons something,” Redfield said waving Nettie forward. Before the girl could move Apple appeared in front of Bird. He smiled at her and pulled her to her feet and out of the vision.

Bird’s eyes flew open and she gasped as she struggled to find her bearings. Someone was saying her name over and over. “I’m fine,” Bird mumbled as she pulled someone’s hand from her wrist. She looked up to see all of the dragons watching her.

“Bird, you’re bleeding,” Apple said. She glared at him and stood up.

“I’m fine,” she said again.

“You are not fine!” Apple roared causing Bird to jump back in surprise. “I pulled you from a room cornered by a tiger and a girl threatening you with a dagger. You are bleeding from fresh cuts. Don’t lie to me again.” Bird backed away again refusing to meet the dragon’s eyes. She bit her lip as she balled her fists and felt the wetness of blood flow over her fingers. “How can I be your guardian if you don’t trust me?” Bird heard something in Apple’s voice and looked back to see pain in his eyes. She felt her heart squeeze in her chest as she saw the sheen of unshed tears blur his green eyes.

“I trust you,” Bird said so soft that she could barely hear herself. “But this is none of your business.”

“It is my business because whatever it is, it’s harming you.”

Bird’s breath hitched and she swallowed back a lump. “She’s my cousin!” she yelled. “He took her. Sometimes when I close my eyes to sleep, I see them. Sometimes they see me, sometimes they don’t.” Bird covered her face to hide her tears. Apple immediately hugged her; eventually he coaxed the whole story from her while the others sat in silence listening intently.

“He’ll train her to track the child,” Elys said. “It will take a year for him to complete the training and coercion.” Bird gripped Apple’s shirt tightly and choked back a sob. “If we do not ward her dreams, he will not have to track her.”

“Should we still take her to Uler?” Adwin asked.

“Yes,” Apple said. “The city has strong wards to guard against seeking, the sooner we reach it the better. For now I will have Lore ward her until we can reach the Oracle.” Apple met Lore’s eyes over Bird’s head; the younger dragon nodded in understanding. Fel looked between all the dragons confused.

“What are you going to do to her?”

“I will set up a spell that will keep that will keep her safe while she dreams. In essence it will inhibit her dreams and prevent her from stepping outside her mind.”

“Step outside her mind? How can she do that she’s just a girl, she’s not a witch or demon.” Bird stared at her feet while Apple held her against his chest. “She’s not, right?” Fel looked at the dragons his eyes wide in fear then finally at Bird who cringed. She can’t be a witch, he thought to himself. She is such a fragile looking child. How can a witch look like that?

“I’m a witch, that’s why those dreams started. It wasn’t nightmares caused by my family’s death.” Bird raised her chin and looked him in the eye. She opened her hand that she had held against her chest and showed Fel the angry red line that ran across her palm. “I did not do this to myself.” She turned her head to show him the cut on her ear that was still bleeding.

“Bird,” Fel said gently.

“Witches aren’t the demons that everyone portrays them as. They are people like my cousin, like your daughter, like me. I know you say you have become comfortable around magic, but will you be comfortable around me knowing what I am?”

Fel looked away unable to meet her eyes. How was he supposed to be a father to his child if he was still scared of witches?

“Give him time Bird, he has not been with us long,” Apple said kissing the top of her head. “Go with Lore.”

Bird shivered as she stepped away from Apple’s warmth. She had wanted to avoid telling Fel that she was a witch for as long as she could. It seemed foolish now to think that she could hide it in the first place. She was a witch born to magic as a bird was born to fly. Sometimes she felt a compulsion to use her powers just to feel the rush wielding it gave her, which was why even after her mother’s death she had stayed on her parents’ small farm. A witch could not hide long among others unlike themselves.

“Stand here,” Lore said pointing to a spot a foot in front of him. Bird positioned herself and watched as the dragon summoned his magical energy. He traced a ward in the air where it glowed briefly then disappeared. Suddenly the ward’s energy filled her and she gasped as she felt its strength. Were all dragons this powerful? Pain formed in her head and she doubled over as it grew in intensity. “Don’t fight it Briar, let it become part of you.”

She heard the worry in his voice as she fell to her knees, her body still resisting the spell. Her chest felt heavy as she struggled to open her mind to receive the ward. “It hurts.” Her voice sounded hoarse as her body continued to strain under the power of the ward, every limb feeling as if it was being cleaved in two.

“Bird, just open you mind!” Lore yelled as she collapsed further.

Lore's voice sounded muffled in her ears. A veil of darkness settled over her eyes filled with bursts of light that hurt with each pop.

Fel watched Bird collapsed then looked at the dragons as they watched her intently not moving. Why did they not go forward to help her? Was it not obvious that she was in pain, that the ward was killing her? Lore was continuing to yell at her while Apple stood shaking, his hands balled into fists. Fel’s eyes widened in surprise; they were going to let her die.

His body moved before his brain caught up with it. He lifted Bird to her feet then slapped her. She let out a loud gasp, her eyes rolled back in her head then the world burst into flame.

***

“Did you know something like this could happen?”

“No, I’ve never seen this and Grandmother never mentioned it.”

“Well if they both died then that means fewer problems for us. We should just leave them here and continue on.”

“How can you be so hateful! You are a heavenly being, talk like that could-”

“What, have me banished from heaven? We are already exiled and forced to scrape like dogs at the scraps of holy power we once possessed. It was beings like her that have laid us low!”

“So you would blame them all for the sins of their kin? You have become very bitter. When we return I will speak with my mother about having you temporarily removed from duty. You cannot drown yourself in your work.”

“You will not child! I have lived centuries and seen all the evils you have yet to see!”

“Elys stop! Hate is a poison; you have allowed it to spread to everyone around you. Yena and I have been by your side since we rescued you from the ruins of Iehara. Apple speaks out of wisdom; you must take a respite from your duties.”

Fel’s eyes fluttered open. Yena was leaning over him, her hands on either side of his head as she hummed under her breath. “What you did was foolish young one,” she said to him as he sat up clutching his head. The memory of burning was still fresh in his mind but his body was whole. He looked around the camp and saw the other dragons clustered together arguing. Elys and Lore were shimmering, their gazes locked with seething anger. Adwin and Apple stood between them acting as mediators. One misstep and the two dragons would erupt into their holy forms and fight flame and claw.

“You’ve upset them; I’ve never seen them so angry.”

Fel jumped then turned his head to find Bird sitting next to him covered head to toe in a blanket. She gave him a grim smile that chilled his soul. Somehow she exuded more of a presence as if before she had only been standing in the threshold of existence. Her eyes looked haunted as she turned her attention back to Apple.

“What happened?” Fel asked.

Bird raised an eyebrow and smiled again. “You don’t remember? You interfered in a spell that my body was rejecting. When a person is rejecting magic you do not touch them or the spell could leave its intended target or change. Thankfully you have no magical power or else we’d both be dead.”

Fel felt his face heat up in embarrassment. The dragons had not touched her because they knew the consequences of doing so and he had rushed in like a witless idiot. “How is it that we both live?”

“I pulled you from death,” Bird said closing her eyes. Her whole body shook uncontrollably and she sucked in her breath as if it pained her. Fel reached out to touch her. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed before his hand breached the distance between them. She opened her eyes and fixed him with a hard stare. “I still feel death’s chill down in my bones. Since you stood in its halls, if you touch me now I cannot save you again.”

“I’m almost done healing him,” Yena said bringing the young lord’s attention back to the dragon. “You both need to rest.”

Bird stood up suddenly and went to her blanket roll before approaching Elys. The elder dragon turned around immediately, his eyes unable to mask his fear. Slowly she reached out her hand, touched his arm and closed her eyes.

“I know you hate me, hate me all you want, but you were given a mission. Instead of worrying about me, worry about what’s important,” Bird said holding up her book with her other hand. She pressed it against Elys’s chest until he took it. “Truce?” The dragon snorted and walked away. Apple immediately hugged Bird and kissed her forehead.

“He looked ready to kill you,” Apple murmured into her hair then pinched her.

“Ow!” Bird rubbed her arm where it stung then glared at Apple.

“What possessed you to do that? That was dangerous!”

Bird focused on her feet and shifted her weight. “I had a little chat.”

“Chat, with who?”

“Were you getting all friendly with the vapors?” Lore asked smirking.

Bird glared at him. “No, I met a dragon who named himself Death. He told me he knew Elys a long time ago. He told me I should give the book to Elys and tell him that ‘Paradise has a new refuge’; though what that means I don’t know.” The dragons looked at each other wondering about Bird’s cryptic words.

“Did he say anything else?” Adwin asked looking thoughtful.

“Victory will come in death. He was really odd.” Bird paused for a moment and frowned. “He also said he liked honeyed dates. What’s a date?”

“It was a favored fruit of Iehara, many enjoyed it; I have not seen one since leaving the desert,” Elys said from behind Bird. She jumped and grabbed Apple for support. “That fruit you spoke of… that was my son’s favorite. This dragon, what did he look like?” Bird eyed him carefully then looked at Apple for support. He nodded at her.

“He… he looked like you, but younger and gentler,” Bird said softly. She wrapped her blanket more firmly around her shoulders and leaned into Apple’s chest. “As I said before, he’s odd.”

Elys smiled gently then walked away once more. “Never thought that I would see him smile like that,” Lore said shaking his head. He ran his fingers through his long hair and sighed. “I’ll never understand what goes through that dusty head.”

“He’s creepy how he walks away then reappears,” Bird said massaging her arms. Apple pressed her closer to his side.

“You need to sleep. We have a long day’s travel ahead of us,” Apple said. Bird yawned and felt her body sag with exhaustion. Sleep did sound good. Apple shimmered then transformed into his dragon form startling her into half wakefulness. He grunted at her then tucked her under his wing to keep her warm. Lore punched Apple in the side.

“Next time warn me when you’re changing.” Apple snorted then turned his attention back to Bird. Her skin had been ice cold and the tips of her fingers had gone a bluish color. Time in the realm of the dead often altered a person more than just physically. She must have strong magical and mental stamina to not only pull herself, but another person from death’s grasp, he thought to himself. He could feel her power radiating from her body with such intensity he wondered how long it would take the tigers to notice her presence. As long as he remained in dragon form near her when she slept his natural defenses would keep her safe from all, but the most sensitive.