Two Days Later....
Lilasia and I are flying back home to continue our preparations to leave for the capital by the end of next week. The last couple of days were spent with talking with my grandmother, aunt and uncle, and my cousins. It was probably the last time that I would see them for a while. I also got to spend some time with my cousin Tyler and his partner Analese before they had to fly back to the capital themselves, though they did fly partway with us on our way back home before he had to veer off. He gave me lots of advice for my time in the capital. He says that our family will always have a target on our backs for how legendary our Grandfather, Arturo and his partner, Excaliver, were in battle.
He warned me about some of the upperclassmen to avoid especially, for they were known for their cruel pranks and hazing. One good example, he told me, was that when he was a newbie, they made him stand at attention for hours on end. They told him that he could not leave until the king passed him. The cruel part of that was is that the king was not at the capital that day. Finally one of the instructors noticed he was missing and found him like that. He was sore for days afterwards for standing at attention for so long.
Tyler also did some sparring with me before dinner the last day, and said that I was competent, and would probably give the other trainees a run for their money. I can thank my mother for all of the training she gave me growing up.
"We had an awesome time visiting them, didn't we?" Lilasia says as she banks in the direction of home. "Blakely had an absolute blast riding with me. We will make him a dragon warrior yet."
While I was with Tyler, Lilasia had also gone to Blakely's school and played several games with the children there. There weren't as many dragon pairs in that village, so I am sure that it was a real treat for them all. Analese even joined in the fun.
"I am sure the children will cherish those memories for the rest of their lives." I reply as I squint at something in the distance. "That's quite a bit of smoke coming from the village distant for a village that size. Maybe we should stop by and offer assistance."
"You are quite right, Missy. When we flew over a few days ago, there wasn't that much smoke." Lilasia says as she makes a heading toward the village. It was a little out of our way, but even untrained as we are, we have a duty to render aid when we can.
As we got closer, it became apparent that the small village on the border was in dire staights. For one, the village was only big enough to host only one or two dragon warrior pairs. The crossing over the river led to our enemies, the Gregorians. The crossing in the area was quite treacherous, but it became apparent that the enemy soldiers had some how made it across.
Gregorians were creatures that were half man and half beasts that gave the country it name and symbol. They had little use for full-blooded humans, though they didn't treat their half-bloods much better. They took human women as breeders and killed the men for no other reason but to terrorize the villages and towns. If it weren't for the dragons, our land would have been done for a long time ago.
"Hoo the village. Do you need any assistance?" Lilasia called out silently and trumpeted from up high, hoping there might be some survivors of this horrible attack. The Gregorians were known for their violence but usually left the young and elderly alone, for the most part.
Out of the corner of my eye, I spy a young lad running in our direction waving his arms, trying hard to get our attention. Lilasia lands and I dismount.
"What happened and how long ago did the attack happen?" I ask quickly. "Where are the dragon warriors and what assistance do you need?"
"Ma'am, the attack happened in the dead of night the night before last. We had no warning and they showed no mercy. They took my mother and older sister, killed my father when he fought them, and then left the village to burn." The young lad reports as I look at the destruction around us. "The village elder has gathered the survivors in the meeting house that is hidden in the forest not too far from here. One of the warriors dragon was hurt, and another went out to get help. He left yesterday, so we should see reinforcements at any time now."
The poor lad couldn't be much older than my cousin Blakely and I had to fight the urge to take him in my arms and hold him tight. He looked so scared and his clothes in such disarray. Whether he realized it or not, he was now technically an orphan. It was unlikely that he would ever see his mother or older sister again. Most human women did not survive giving birth to a Gregorian, and if they did, the birth left them infertile and useless to the Gregorians.
"Let's have him lead us to the meeting house. We can start the assessments of the village, and see about getting the survivors to other nearby villages where they can restore themselves and figure out what to do next." Lilasia says in my mind. Addressing the young lad, "How about you hop on my back and lead us back to the meeting house so we can render aid and start the moving process. Is that all right?"
The poor lad didn't say much else but allowed me to help get atop Lilasia's back and directed us to where the meeting house was under the shelter of the nearby woods. I learned that his name was Timothy, though most called him Tim or Timmy, and that his father was the local Leather Maker and was teaching him the trade when he was killed. Upon hearing this, a thought formed in my mind. But I would have to act on it later.
We arrived at the meeting house and I helped Timmy get down. An elder met us at the door with hope on her aged, wrinkled face. Walking inside, I see many young and old ones but not many in between. I also saw the injured laying on tables with swathes of bandages on many different extremities.
"My name is Melissa Berkshire and this is my partner Lilasia. Please direct us as you will to help you the best way possible. I am sure more help is on the way. We only came here by chance when we saw all of the smoke." I say aloud while looking at all of the frightened and scared faces. "I am sure that my mother, the newly appointed General Julie Berkshire, will send as much aid as possible."
I suddenly hear dragon trumpeting from above and knew that the calvery had arrived.