100: Drag On Drag Off – Pt. 1

“What do we do?” Victoria asked, watching the winged monster heading straight for them.

Just as the beast neared them, it suddenly veered off course with the loud shouting of a deep voice close by. Derrick and Victoria looked toward the horizon and saw a man approaching, his arms raised above his head as he gazed up at the sky. She couldn’t make out what he was saying, but whatever it was made the mystical creature fly away. “Move, now. Come to me,” he said, waving toward the couple.

Victoria and Derrick wasted no time and started after the strange man. He led them toward a horse-drawn carriage waiting nearby. They quickly clambered inside, the man gave a shout and they were off. Looking out of the window, Victoria could see the small village still ablaze and the large dragon hovering above. “Thank you for this,” Derrick said once he’d settled in the seat beside Victoria.

“Yes, we really appreciate this. That was unbelievable!” Victoria exclaimed.

“Unfortunately, it’s become a daily nuisance around here. Ever since the new king banished the Pyrexians living in the mountains. However, that was a close call. My name is Elias and happy to be of service.”

“Victoria, and this is Derrick. Who are the Pyrexians?”

“It’s a race of ancients; people who’ve lived here in Praaven since its discovery.”

“Praaven; is that where we are?” Victoria asked, looking over toward Derrick to see if the name held any recognition, but he shook his head. “Elias, I know this might sound like a strange question but, what year is this?” With that, the man’s eyebrow shot up and he gave the couple an appraising look, finally seeing them.

“I’m sorry, where have you two traveled from?”

“Uh…” Victoria stammered.

Leaning forward, Derrick held the man’s gaze. “We’re just two ordinary travelers that you’re helping travel to the Pyrexians.”

“Why there?” Victoria whispered so only Derrick could hear.

“Sounds like a good place to start,” he replied. With a catatonic stare, the man nodded his head. “Good. Now, as my lovely companion asked, could you please tell us what year is this?”

“Of course! The year is 1427.” Leaning his head out the window, Elias shouted toward the coach driver to change course, directing him toward the mountains in search of the Pyrexians.

“Back there, when the dragon was attacking, you shouted something at it; made it leave us alone,” Derrick said. “How did you do that?”

Looking down a moment, Elias sighed in quiet contemplation before holding Derrick’s gaze. “It’s a skill I’ve learned from my father that he learned from his before him. It’s called Draconi; it’s the native tongue of the Pyrexians.”

“Wait, you’re Pyrexian?” Victoria asked in wide-eyed disbelief. Elias nodded.

“Ever since our new king disturbed our home my people have been in hiding. It’s caused a major disturbance with all of the Pyrexians and as such, our protectors have been seeking retribution.”

“Your protectors?” Victoria asked, giving the word a moment to sink in. “The dragons?” Again, Elias nodded.

“That dragon’s name is Nasros. Normally, he isn’t so aggressive but recent events have provoked the brood. They can sense our distress and are trying to make right the injustice inflicted upon us.”

“How is killing a bunch of innocent people supposed to do that?”

“They aren’t out for blood, unfortunately, that cannot be avoided. The dragons are trying to rebuild our home; taking land for our displaced people.”

“Who is this new king? What exactly has he done?” Derrick prodded.

“King Osric. He has made a ruling that those possessing magic shall be struck down upon sight. He has hunted down and murdered countless people; witches, warlocks, sorcerers and wyrm lords.”

“Is that what you are?” Victoria asked with growing interest. “A wyrm lord?”

“Yes, I as well as my people can speak to the dragons; command them. We are dragonkin.”

Victoria felt a tingling sensation move down her spine. Something about the idea of their new friend being a wyrm lord struck a chord. “Elias, what’s your surname?”

“Carson. Why?”

Victoria gave a watery laugh as she shared a look with Derrick. “The spell worked!”

“It would appear so,” Derrick smiled at the excited look on her face.

“Spell? What spell?”

“I cast a spell so that I could learn more about my dragon lineage; about you. We unexpectedly got pulled back in time to—here,” she said, gesturing around.

“You were pulled through time? Who are you? What do you mean?”

“We’re from the future. I’m a dragonborn witch. My name is Victoria Carson; you and I are family.”

“Family?” Elias asked, looking Victoria in the eyes. “You’re a witch? A Carson witch?”

“I am.”

“Huh. We’ve not heard the likes of you since Adeline over a century ago. After the birth of the white dragon, witches within the Carson line ceased to exist. It’s been said the magic that brought about its conception was so great, it consumed the lot of the Carson wizardry. Do dragons still exist in your time?”

“No, I’m afraid not.”

“Well,” Elias sighed. “That makes sense. If witchcraft has been restored to our line, dragons therefore are no more. One cannot exist with the other.”

“Until now,” Derrick spoke up. “Victoria is both. Her magic has become so powerful, she now has command of dragon’s flame. It’s why she sought out her ancestors; to learn how to better control that elemental fire.”

“Remarkable!” Elias said, a huge smile on his face. The carriage began to slow and Victoria glanced out the window. They had made it over the mountain and were entering the ruins of a city.

“We’re here. Welcome to Bendale.” Once the horses came to a complete stop, Elias stepped out of the wagon and helped Victoria down. “Are you ready to meet the rest of the Carson clan?” Victoria nodded eagerly and Elias led them into camp.

It was a small but bustling area filled with different families who appeared war-torn and ragged. It was obvious they had been through something that had scared them into hiding. And this small, cliffside estate had become their sanctuary. Hidden within the chasm of a large mountain, Bendale was a battle-damaged fort that set above a lake. And although a section of the tiny stronghold had been ravaged, the fortress still held. The deeper in they walked, the more it became apparent why the exiled Pyrexians had come to call this place home. The fortifications of defense on the citadel and the surrounding garrison made the place virtually impenetrable.

Just above, Victoria noticed a large dragon circling as if it was patrolling the area, on the lookout for incoming hostile forces. Elias led them toward the longhouse in the center of the encampment. And as they started toward the entrance, a gathering crowd caught their attention. “What’s happening over there?” Derrick asked, noticing a large bonfire being erected.

“Ah, we’ve captured a trespasser; a vampyr.”

“Vampire?” Victoria asked in shock.

“Yes. They are the scourge of humanity. It is our duty to put them to rest.”

“Why?”

“They are nothing more than the mere shade of their former selves. They cannot sustain in the sun and must kill innocents to survive. They are a detriment to our race.”

“Not all vampires are monsters. You of all people should understand that,” Victoria nearly shouted. “You and your kind are hunted by a merciless king and can’t see the hypocrisy of your actions?”

“We all do what we must to survive.”

Rushing forward, mostly out of curiosity, Victoria caught sight of a tuft of blonde hair and gasped. “ROWAN?!” she shouted, charging toward a cage centralized near the bonfire. “What are you doing here?”

“Victoria! Oh, Luv, you are a bleeding sight for sore eyes. Get me out of this sodding cage, will you?”

“We caught him trespassing on sacred land. He is our prisoner,” a huge man spoke in a booming voice, moving in front of Victoria, preventing her from reaching him.

“No, he is my friend and you will not harm him,” she said, standing her ground.

“Victoria, you know this—this…demon?” Elias asked in shock.

“Yes, Elias, as I said he is a friend of mine. He came with us we just didn’t land in the same place. You can’t do this. I won’t let you.” The man glanced over her shoulder toward Elias and grunted before stepping aside.

“How are you here?” she asked, reaching toward the latch to release him.

“I don’t bloody well know. As I was arriving to your place, I was ensnared in a bright burst of light. Next thing I know, I’m bollocksed and set to be pyred. Apparently, they don’t take too kindly to my sort.”

“Oh. Oops.”

“‘Whoops?’” Rowan repeated, gazing down into Victoria’s solemn gaze. “I hope that’s a fancy way of saying ‘you didn’t do this to me.’”

“Rowan, I didn’t know. I honestly had no idea Derrick and I would even be teleported here.”

“Ah, so you did send me here.”

“By accident.”

“My arse! I was nearly slaughtered.”

“Rowan,” Victoria said gently, hoping to calm the blonde vampire as they moved away from the blazing inferno. “It was an accident. I cast a spell trying to find out information on my dragon lineage. I had no idea it was going to bring us back in time to…this,” she said, motioning with her arms around the area. “I’m sorry it caught you too.”

“Oh, fine. Apology accepted, Princess. Now will you please do me the courtesy of telling me where in time we are?”

“The dark ages.”

“Ah. I’ve lived it before. I don’t very well wish to do it again.”

“Well, there’s a small hitch with that,” Victoria said with a hint of a smile.

“The spell has to run its course before we can get out of here,” Derrick said, moving beside Victoria.

“In that case, it’s best I stick beside you, Little Witch. Otherwise, the locals may well get their vampire barbecue.”

The disruption of the execution created an uproar and Elias did his best to corral the outraged crowd. It was then Victoria noticed a familiar face step into view and swallowed a yelp. “Elias, that man over there, the redhead staring at us, who is he?” Victoria asked, holding the man’s gaze as he stood on the steps of the longhouse.

“Alaric Dragonos; he’s our patriarch and village elder,” Elias answered.

“Dragonos?” Instantly her eyes met Derrick and he took her hand, sensing her sudden distress. “Derrick, do you think…”

“There’s only one way to find out.”

“Wait,” Victoria stopped suddenly and turned toward Elias. “Did you say ‘patriarch?’”

“Yes. Alaric Dragonos is the patriarch to the Carson line. He uses this penname as an homage to our dragon brethren. I guess in essence he’d be somewhere around your greatest grandfather.”