The Seven Seals: Dragon Crusade
Chapter 25: Atara

“I-its HUGE!” Rahz gawked at the tall and fortified city from across the moat. After a numerous amount of hitchhiking, running, and more hitchhiking, the Six Seals had reached Atara just after noon. It was a miracle that they had accomplished such a feat. From Greendocks, the town they had stayed in, to Atara was a three-day journey and they made it in two. Though, it didn’t take away from the fact that they were still exhausted from the shipwreck and would have to deal with more perilous things. They had to even make sure they weren’t too lenient on the road system, lest a mercenary or an Obligator come and recognize them. Traveling up stream was a considerable option, but every ride looked like it had gone half of the speed that the Seals were racing at.

Before them stood Atara in its full glory, glinting as the sun hit its surface. This was by far the largest city the Seals had ever laid eyes upon. The walls were tall and built for war. A moat that could’ve been mistaken for a lake surrounded the city on all sides with stone bridges leading to its four main entrances. Watch towers stuck out from the outer walls, but the largest of them all was standing in the very center of the city. The main tower stretched up high, almost to the clouds. It was an awesome sight to see, but it stuck out against the lush fields and forests.

“It is…” Travis said as they walked, “but it’s just asking to be attacked.”

Rossiel crossed her arms. “You have a point there.”

Travis smiled genuinely. “Glad we can agree on something.”

Rossiel didn’t say anything in reply.

Kirith scanned the skies and narrowed his eyes. Six of the seven moons were visible in the sky and were coming close. “We need to hurry up and find Earidon. I don’t like how close the moons are.”

Kate looked up also and bit her lip. “That is if we can find him,” she replied and looked to Kirith. “Did he have a specific place we were supposed to meet.”

“I-I don’t know… He just said to meet him at the city…I think?” Kirith rubbed the back of his neck. “If he said anything about a meeting place, I don’t remember.”

Laela pointed up to the tower. “We could always try the tower, maybe he’s there!”

Travis shrugged his shoulders and patted Laela’s head. “It’s always a good start.”

Upon reaching the bridge, Kate looked down at the shimmering waters of the moat and the reflection of the moons. It was too fantastical to see so many of them at once and in such large forms, but it was all there, threatening the future of humanity. “You think anyone in whatever higher up system of government here would know about this?” Kate asked, glancing to Kirith.

“They probably know, maybe not. If Earidon hasn’t already, we should inform the Atara Council.” Kirith sighed as his brow knitted. “We can’t let Orin get away with another one of his schemes. He’s done enough already.”

Kate bit her lip. “Kirith, I know you have a right to be angry at him, but I really think we should take the most precautions. Orin is very powerful and I’ve felt what he has.”

Kirith looked to Kate with the deepest scowl and she knew she shouldn’t have said that. “You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” He didn’t give time for her to answer that. “He’s an arrogant liar. He thinks he can get away with all these preposterous plans of his.” Kirith looked back ahead. “Get your mind off him, Kate, this is war.”

Kate balled her fists and wanted to so badly punch him, to lash out at him. But he had a point with his words. She had her chance to save Orin, and now it was gone. She hated it, and she didn’t want to believe it, but deep down something was telling her to grow up.

The Seals reached the city gates, which were much larger than they imagined. Two tall double doors stretched up at least fifteen feet, covered from head to toe in an ornate stone marking of two pegasuses clashing. Two guards stood at attention on either side of the gate, dressed in magnificent armor and holding lances. They both caught the Seals eyes, and the one to the left spoke up. “You! What business do you have here?”

Kirith spoke on the behalf of the rest of them. “We only seek the presence of the council.”

The two guards looked to each other, somewhat puzzled. Seeing children, who looked like some wound-up orphans and wanted to speak with government officials, was not an everyday thing for them. They simply shrugged and the left one answered, “You may enter.”

The massive doors were pulled open, much too slowly with all the Seals’ excitement and anxiety deep within. The inside was much more than what they had expected. With burst of wind, there stood before them a wide cobblestone streets and tall cottage buildings, some made purely of stone. It was unlike any other city street they had seen; something about it was more professional and diverse. Not only were there humans, but also there were also Lamari, elves, dwarves, and many others. It was almost shocking and overwhelming to see them all at once. As the Seals walked in with the doors closing behind them, they caught sight of various different exotic birds and creatures. Laela’s eyes seemed to catch one that looked to be a small rabbit with deer horns protruding from its head, all bundled up in a passerby’s arms. Rossiel put a hand on the girl’s shoulder and moved her a bit back to the group.

“Do not stray from the group or you’ll be caught in the crowd,” she warned gently.

The Six Seals continued through the streets, seeing many things they had never seen before. The crowds were filled with rich and poor. There were men and women who wore valiant armor with magnificent weapons and mages in fine cloaks displaying their powers for all to see. Everything was full of life and color, but also haste and the hunger for material goods. Kate almost wanted to stop and have a look at all their jewelry and fabrics, but they had places to be, someone who was waiting for them. The group had caught sight of a crowd surrounding a man and a caged carriage full of shadowed figures inside. He was holding a young girl with draconic horns and eyes by the arm, spouting prices. The Seals didn’t bother to stay and listen.

But was Earidon really there waiting for them? He had to be; he and the other wood elves knew what they were doing. They were most likely more prepared than the Seals were. But if he wasn’t there…what would they do? There were only eight or nine hours till the alignment of the moons and they had nothing but a of couple weapons and the clothes on their backs.

As the six of them neared the center of the city, there was less of a crowd. The attire of the people of the inner district was fancy and couldn’t be affordable even if each of the Seals pockets was filled with coins. The ladies wore silk woven dresses that dragged on the ground with cloth hats of fine handiwork. The men wore simple yet clean tunics and robes, some dark and some light. Some of them even wore long draping capes. They all had one thing in common, and it was that they were somewhat disgusted by the Seals’ presence.

The structure of the buildings changed also with the change of the crowd. Villas, apartments, and some mansions were all clustered together perfectly, almost too perfectly. The symbol of Atara, a pegasus much like the ones on the gates, was seen more often there in that district.

After about ten minutes of walking, they reached a large inner circle of path which surrounded a massive building, one to which stood out from the rest; the main tower. Steps lead up to the main doors, which were almost as large as the gates. A flourishing garden sat around the tower’s outer path. Two carved stone knights stood on either side of the path, holding their swords vertically to the earth. The same light blue flags with the pegasus on them flapped in the wind on either side of the path. Young and old men and women walked about slowly, quietly discussing things in a friendly manner, some more quite serious about what they had to say.

“It’s…so tall,” Laela gawked as her eyes shimmered.

“Such dear time taken to build a tower of all things,” Rossiel said, not so impressed.

Travis rolled his eyes. “Maybe it’s like a beacon of sorts, people see it as a symbol of hope.”

“Travis, this city was made solely from the backs of dragons,” Rossiel snapped. “Don’t you think it’s just asking for Orin’s attention?”

Travis’ eyes widened slightly. “O-oh, I didn’t think about it that way.”

“I don’t see Earidon…not even any wood elves,” Kate stated.

Kirith looked back at her. “Let’s ask around, maybe someone will know.”

They approached the main doors and entered inside. To their surprise, the inside felt like it was ten degrees colder. But despite how unnaturally cold it was, the inside went past their expectations. The main hall was a wide oval room with clean granite flooring. A section of the room had a lounge with a small table in between two couches and several chairs. The other part of the room was a reception made of dark wood. A fairly young girl stood behind the desk, writing something down hurriedly as her curly, dark locks of hair fell over her face. She hadn’t noticed them when they came in.

Walking up to the counter, Kirith spoke up first. “We need to see the Councilors here,” he demanded.

The girl snapped her head up, slapped out of daze. She looked around at them with wide eyes before loosing eye contact. “A-ah, yeah, sure…do you want someone specific…? Or maybe an appointment?” She had the most pitiful sounding voice.

“No appointment. Whoever we can get in contact with immediately.”

The girl pushed strands of hair behind her ear and flipped open a book behind the desk. She stopped at a page and ran her finger down the list. “They’re all quite busy at the moment… Oh wait, Bastion Marion is free right now. Would you like him…?”

Kirith exhaled impatiently. “I told you we just need to see someone who is free at the moment!”

“Okay, okay…” The girl looked down shyly and collected a few things. “This way please.”

Going around the desk, she led them through a doorway and down a long curved hall. Parted double doors on the other side revealed a center room, with which the hall they entered surrounded. On the other side of the wall, tall stained glass windows stood, depicting various different scenes and tales of many years ago. One of them was of a man dressed in a blood red cloak, standing over a pile of skulls with a black sun in the background.

As they walked down the hall, they passed by a few men and women dressed regally, some holding a scroll or book in their hands. They gave the Seals weird looks just as they walked by. The receptionist guided them to a particular man standing next to a window with a woman riding a white steed and cutting off the head of an ugly beast on it. He was tall and lanky, but somehow kept his back so straight. His tuft of hair was graying and pushed back.

“Father…” the Receptionist began, “some people would like to see you…”

Kate cocked an eyebrow. Father?

Bastion Marion looked up from the small book he had been writing in with a quill and gazed at them with beady eyes. He let out a low hum as he turned to his daughter for an answer but she had already fled away. Bastion’s brow knitted into an incoming scowl as he pushed up his spectacle. “What’s the meaning of this? Speak quickly!”

Kirith was quite satisfied with finally getting into contact with someone. “Look, I only have to speak with you briefly,” he said. “Have you heard anything about any elves coming into the city? Maybe one came here specifically named Earidon?”

“What kind of question is this?!” Bastion sputtered. “Don’t waste my time.”

Kirith gritted his teeth. “Just answer the question!”

Bastion let out a “tch” and lowered his book to his side. “Boy, do you know how big this city is?! Elves walk in and out of this place, and I don’t know any Earidon. Now excuse me, I’m very busy!” He turned and began to walk the other way, writing some more in the hand held book.

The Seals looked around at each other rather puzzled, but Kirith persisted and followed the councilor. “Well aren’t you aware of the alignment of the seven moons? Is anyone here aware of that?!”

“Of course we are!” Bastion snapped. “A festival will be held to celebrate it.”

“That’s the exact opposite of what needs to happen!” Kate blurted out.

Kirith interpreted that. “The Felorian prince Orindir plans to attack this city with an army of dragons when that alignment happens. You have to make preparations, seal off the gates, strengthen the holds on the dragons you and the citizens have!”

“Pah! That is preposterous!” Bastion didn’t even bother to look back at them. “No one believes the Felorian prince’s claims. You children should know better!”

Kirith grew enraged and stepped in Bastion’s path. “People are going to die! The northern elves weren’t lying when they said they would try to take over Vasnidale, and we almost lost to them once in the past!”

Bastion stopped and glowered down at Kirith. “Do you want to marry my daughter?! Is that what this is all about?! I know she’s pretty but impressing her like this isn’t the way!” his voice was shaking now with anger.

Kirith opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t quite find the right words. Travis let a low whistle and shifted uneasily.

“W-what?!” Kirith stammered. “N-no, that’s— are you even listening to me?! The Felorians are going to attack! Arm the cities defenses!”

“I’ve heard enough!” Bastion barked. “I’m a very busy man, I do not have time for such foolish talk. Now be gone or I’ll call the guards on you!” With a “hmph,” he turned on his heel and walked down the hall hastily, fuming with irritation.

Kirith balled his fists and punched the nearby wall. “Unbelievable!”

Rossiel crossed her arms and furrowed her brow. “That just goes to show how far a human politician’s ego can go,” she sighed.

“He doesn’t even know where Earidon is either…” Laela relented.

“This is outrageous!” Kirith threw up his hands. “Earidon is nowhere to be found and the Atarian council has a brain the size of a grain of sand. The alignment is only hours away and there’s no real way to prepare!”

“All we can do at this point is wait and fight our best,” Travis said.

“Unless we can get the attention of other surrounding countries. Maybe they’ll offer to send aid,” Rossiel suggested.

Kate looked to the windows. “It’s probably too late. And who’s going to believe us?”

“Hey, where’s Rahz?” Laela asked.

Everyone immediately went on alert at Laela’s question. Kate didn’t spot the Lamari anywhere. She hadn’t realized he wasn’t with them when they came in. Where had he gone? Kate’s heart began to pound in her chest. “I really hope it wasn’t the Obligators that took him…”

Travis scowled. “He’s probably hiding in the shadows or something. We saw what he could do!”

“He’s not hiding in the shadows, fool,” Rossiel retorted. “Besides, I do not sense his presence here.”

Kirith really didn’t appreciate hearing all of it as he seemed to grow more agitated by the second. “We last saw him when entering the city, right? So he’s most likely…”

Kate’s eyes widened. “In the market.”

Kirith clenched his teeth. “That thieving, pathetic fox!”

The Seals shoved through the crowd of the streets, receiving some death glares from some of the most threatening and high-class of people. Their looks were no matter to them, for they had something else on their minds. Upon reaching the market, the Seals looked around the booths and tents, trying to catch a glimpse of where Rahz was.

Kate looked up to Travis, who stood the tallest out of all of them. “Travis, do you see him?!”

Travis furrowed his brow as he pushed someone aside. “No, I don’t see him anywhere.”

“Let’s try the next road up!” Kirith said over the chaos.

They continued down the street and turned when the road turned a sharp corner. Maneuvering past a couple, Kate looked on to the row of booths, many of them holding jewelry. He wasn’t there either. Just as she turned back to the group, Rossiel had dashed up a stack of crates and stopped at the top. She scanned the crowd with squinted eyes before pointing to the right of the street. “There!”

The Seals at once headed in the exact direction she pointed with no hesitation. They stopped in a small clearing, and before them Rahz was helping a man with his fallen items. Kate caught a glimpse of Rahz putting a pouch in his satchel. They stood back up and Rahz pulled off the fake apology well, as the man had dismissed him passively. Kate’s jaw dropped at the sight of it. He just never gives up!

The Victim-of-Theft left without another word, and Rahz grinned mischievously. Turning on his heel, he faced the Seals directly and his skin went paler than ever. Rahz was about to run off when Travis lunged forward and grabbed him by the collar and pulled him over.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Rahz cried. “It’s not what it looks like! I-I just— I can’t help myself! This place drips with riches!”

“Yeah, sure you can’t help yourself,” Travis scoffed. “You just helped yourself to that man’s belongings!”

“Lives are going to be lost and you’re stealing from others!” Kirith fumed.

“Well— what do you expect of me, huh?!” Rahz looked around at them. “I come from the land of thieves! Seeing a place like this for someone like me is a hay day!” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Kate sighed and put a hand on her hip. “Rahz, you have to give up this habit of yours. Things aren’t the same here.”

Laela stepped forward. “She’s right, nothing will be the same anymore… This quest we’ve embarked on requires us to be in the best of behaviors. Please, Rahz…”

Rahz looked down at Laela as he began to frown with guilt. He looked away as his fox ears folded back. Rahz pulled out the small pouch and held it before them. “At the very least, Ami, there’s enough in here to feed us and more.”

Kate sat up on the roof of an inn, watching the inner part of the city from a distance. The incoming night breeze swept through her clothes and made the hairs on her skin stand up. Sounds of music could be heard from afar, music of joy and ignorance. The festival had started not too long after the sun set bellow the horizon. They really didn’t believe Orin’s words. No one did.

The Seals had reluctantly agreed to use the money Rahz stole to their benefit. Before renting a room and getting something to eat, they had gone to a local weaponry shop. Kate had bought a new sword for herself, since the last one was lost in the storm. Once reaching the inn, the six of them agreed to sleep and rest before whatever impending doom came upon the city, but Kate couldn’t sleep.

She had managed to climb up on the roof through the window of their inn room. And there she was, watching, waiting. Kate turned her attention up to the sky. All seven moons were visible in the night sky, but not aligned, though they were getting close. The anticipation was unbearable. It needed to happen already. But the gut wrenching feeling inside Kate begged it to stop.

Whatever was to come would be nothing like she would’ve experienced before. Pain, terror, death, all ingredients for war. Kate would have to see it all. She wanted to go back to her simple life, now that everything was about to collapse upon them. She never had this stress before, and she didn’t want it.

Kate lay back, staring up at the moons, which spoke a silent warning of destruction. Was her Seal even existent anymore? She thought that maybe her Seal would appear to her now of all times and yet she didn’t. Was the Creator even there with her at all?

“Renee, where are you?” Kate whispered. She closed her eyes, praying that she would hear a reply. “Please, if anyone is there, tell me what’s going on. What’s wrong with me?”

There was still no reply. Even as Kate waited there in nearly complete silence, there was nothing. Kate sat up and clenched her fists. “Why won’t you answer me?!”

She quickly realized how loud she had been. Kate went stiff as she looked to the window, listening for any stirring. Nothing. She sighed and laid back down as her mind flooded with worries. Kate pulled off the glove on her right hand and held it up. The Seal was still visible there, but the spirit was non-existent. Creator, where have you gone?

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