Dragon Valley part 5

.............................Part 5: “RUN!”................1

“Why did he leave without me?” whispered Joanna. She was one inch away from breaking into tears. 2

“Your paths were not meant to join now,” explained Medora. “Your own journey starts today. You are totally cured and you are almost ready…”3

“Almost?”4

“Yes, almost.” Medora walked towards a cupboard and took out a green rucksack. She gave it Joanna with the words, “This will help you. Everything you need for now is in here.” Then she walked to the door and said, “Follow me.”5

They went out of the castle. The streets haven’t changed a bit. They were as busy as at night. Medora called an elf. They had a short chat and then the elf said, “Yes, my queen. Follow me.”6

Joanna followed the two elves. As they passed, she was looking at the elves and their houses and shops with interest fulfilling her eyes. She never saw a place more peaceful and more beautiful. 7

They entered a house with a high ceiling. It looked a lot like a stable but there were no horses – just an empty space with barley on the floor. There was also a big rock in the room. They approached the rock and Medora said, “Put your right hand on it.”8

There was a curve in the rock in the form of a hand. Joanna hesitated but eventually put her hand into the shape. At once, something started turning in the middle of the stable. It was getting bigger and bigger. 9

“Oh my god!” exclaimed Joanna when a gorgeous ruby horse was slowly waving with its golden fire hair. “What is this?”10

“This is your horse,” answered Medora. “Every nonhuman, or half-human in your case, has a horse that perfectly matches the soul. A horse is more like a friend than a servant or an animal. These horses know no other master but the one who is their match… but they have feelings too – they can be happy or can be sad… The Green Mountain is the only place left where a soul-horse can be made.” She smiled and added, “Did you see Marin’s horse?”11

“Actually I didn’t” Joanna answered – she was unconscious all the time since Marin called the horse until he left.12

“Well, Marin is the only human who has a soul-horse. This is very unique. But you’ll see it someday…”13

“Does this mean that we’ll meet?” Joanna asked in hope.14

Medora gave no answer – she only looked at Joanna with a look full of complicated meanings. The only thing Joanna understood was, ‘It is up to you.’15

Joanna approached the horse and rubbed its golden-fire hair. The horse nodded and pushed Joanna’s shoulder.16

“Hehehehe. You are so cute!” laughed Joanna.17

“These horses have hidden powers and skills. Every horse is one of its kinds. We cannot predict the things a soul-horse can do. You will discover her skills as you spend more time with her. What will you call it, by the way?” Medora inquired.18

“I’ll call her Lava because she is as red the hot lava,” said Joanna. The horse nodded in happiness.19

“Well then…” Medora said and opened the door of the stable. “You should go now. In addition, remember, you have to be very careful. You should head to the Dragon Valley as you have given a word. Moreover, you should not use any magical disguise. Of course, your look will bring you many troubles but you are the only one who is able to bring back the honor to all human-dragons. And do not be afraid to use your magic.”20

“Thank you,” Joanna said and climbed up onto the horse.21

“You have to head north. The Dragon Valley is lying behind the lands of humans and the Dwarf Mountains. Be careful on your trip. There are a lot of enemies.” Medora said when they were standing at the cities exit.22

“Yes… Thank you,” Joanna smiled. She bent towards the horse’s ear and whispered, “To the north, Lava.”23

Lava took off and jogged into the dark forest. It was amazing. Lava was the lightest horse Joanna had ever seen. She was not even jogging… she was spreading like the flame of a fire… so delicate yet powerful. Joanna didn’t feel that she was on a horse…24

“So he is that nice…” Joanna whispered as Lava peacefully jogged through the forest. “Maybe he is different… At least that is what the Elf Queen said. And she was right about the RedDragon feelings. I did feel that he was a good person once I saw him. I saw pure goodness in his eyes… Oh Lava… If only you could see him…”25

“Brrrr!” Lava shook her head in mockery.26

“What?!” exclaimed Joanna as she blushed. “I don’t mean it this way. It is just that he is so… full of virility…”27

“Brrrr!” Lava repeated, shaking her head. 28

“Alright-alright! I do find him charming…,” admitted Joanna. “It is just that… I never thought my heart would like a BlueHeart… a human…”29

***********************************30

Lava stopped in front of a crossroad. There were three different paths: Poltroon Village (left); Philosopher’s Road (middle); Raisins’ Area (right).31

“You can break your eyes while reading this,” stated Joanna looking at the three boards with the horrible, unreadable handwriting. “So where shall we go? Poltroon Village sounds safe… Philosopher’s Road is attractive… and I can’t imagine what we can find in the Raisins’ Area but raisins. Do you like raisins, Lava?” Lava shook her head and moved away from that path. “Hehehe… Well then, there are two options left.”32

After a while of thinking, Joanna decided that it would be better to go to the Poltroon Village. She figured that they could have breakfast and that there was no danger in the village as the villagers would be… well… poltroon.33

“Let’s go, Lava,” commanded Joanna. “To the Poltroon Village!”34

The village was not too far away. When Joanna arrived, she was surprised not to find a soul in the small village. The silence was frightening. Joanna jumped off Lava and looked around. The dirty houses were spreading on either sides of the muddy road. 35

Joanna saw a signboard over one of the doors, which said, ‘PAUL’S DINNER’36

“I’m hungry,” stated Joanna. “Are you, Lava?” Lava shook her head. “Alright then, wait for me here. I’ll be back soon.”37

Joanna looked at her red dress and remembered Marin’s words, ‘You have to be proud to be a RedDragon.’ It was the first time, since her family was killed, when she went somewhere in her original form. She took a deep breath and opened the door…38

Joanna was not surprised to find nobody in the dirty, stinky dinner. Joanna gifted the place with a disgusted look and opened the door. She walked towards Lava and for some reason Lava started panicking…39

“A RedDragon!” a man shouted.40

“And I was wondering, what this horse reminded me of!” exclaimed another one.41

Around five men were surrounding Joanna and her horse. Other men were coming out of houses and joining the siege.42

“I… I come with peace,” Joanna said loudly and clearly.43

“She comes with peace!” one of the men jeered, taking his sword out. Joanna understood that if the village was a poltroon, the villagers were not indeed. Joanna stretched her right arm in instance of attack.44

“A young RedDragon against twenty strong men? Your magic won’t help you!” laughed out one man.45

They started approaching her… so slowly and frighteningly. Joanna raised her hand and shouted, “Fire shield!” A circle of fire surrounded Joanna and Lava.46

A RedDragon needed no complicated spells to cast charms, jinxes and magic in general. The only thing a RedDragon should do is command and wish. When the charm was really wanted… from the heart… the spell was very powerful. Joanna knew that her spells were much stronger when she was saying them loudly so…47

“Fire arrows!” Joanna said and hundreds of arrows, which were made of fire, launched from the fire shield. The men had metal shields in their hands so the fire brought no harm. “Fire rain!” but it did not harm them either. Helplessly and with no confidence in her magic anymore, she yelled, “Pushing field!”48

Eventually, the pushing field had a strong effect. It pushed the men one meter backwards. Joanna jumped on Lava’s back and shouted, “Run Lava! RUN!” 49