“The Dragon Tiuente.” Corin read from a wall.

  It was carved at the top of a large building that sat atop the ruins of the Dragon Temple.

  “How do you know that?” Zaire quizzed him.

  “That’s what it says on that inscription.” Corin pointed to an inscription. It was carved at the top of a large building that stood on the ruins of the Dragon Temple. The building was not intact; part of it had caved upon impacting the ground.

  “You know how to read the Dragon Script as well?” Zaire asked Corin.

  Corin only turned his head and smiled.

  “Of course.” Zaire said, defeated. “Why am I even surprised?”

  “Tiuente.” Nanaua began. “He was not known for his strength, but they say that he was one of the fastest dragons.”

  “Well, he’s not very fast anymore.” Corin said as he went toward the half-crumbled building.

  Corin grabbed the door and tried to pull it. It did not budge.

  “Let me try,” Nanaua said.

  She came around Corin and pulled on the door several times.

  “We can try to find another-” Corin began but was interrupted.

  Nanaua rammed the door in, tearing it off the hinges.

  “There we go.” She said, pleased with herself and throwing the door down. After tearing the door off, she led the way in.

  “I guess that is one way to gain access.” Corin said as he stepped in. Zaire and the others followed behind.

  The halls of the temple were strangely reminiscent to Corin. It reminded him of all the different dragon temples he had walked around. He had spent many days with Livia scavenging through these.

  A memory came to him.

  “All these inscriptions on the walls.” Livia had said as she stopped in front of the wall. “To think of all the stories that are being told here. If only I could know what they said.”

  “I don’t know, probably something about how great whichever Dragon this belonged to was,” Corin replied.

  “Very funny.” Livia snidely remarked.

  Corin now thought about the present. He looked at the wall in front of him.

  “... Tiuente’s grace is unmatched as he flies through the air. His speed is…”

  “I told you so.” Corin muttered.

  “Did you say something?” Ciana asked Corin.

  “Oh, umm.” Corin began as he stared at the wall. “Nevermind.”

  The others continued going down the temple. Corin snapped back to the present and moved forward.

  “There are signs of recent activity, but I don’t see any furtives.” Nanaua said.

  They were in a large chamber. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, but aside from that, the room did not seem abandoned. The room was not covered in dust, and the inscriptions on the wall were clear and legible. Several hallways extended from this location.

  As they all looked around, Kaha darted off into a hallway.

  “Kaha!” Nanaua called after the wolf running after her. “Wait here!”

  Within moments she returned along with the wolf. As she returned, both she and the wolf were chewing on something.

  “What are you eating?” Corin asked.

  “Kaha found bread,” Nanaua replied between bites. “It’s fairly fresh. Here.”

  She threw a loaf at Corin. He grabbed it and split it, giving half to Zaire.

  “I am quite hungry.” Zaire said, accepting his piece.

  Corin sniffed the bread and took a bite. It had a slightly sour taste. The bread was mildly stale, but it was still fine to eat.

  “This bread can’t be more than five days old.” Corin said between bites.

  “But where is everyone?” Zaire asked.

  Corin and Nanaua looked at each other.

  “Jokasta?” Ciana asked.

  “She’s the only one who would have been able to take furtives away in such a manner and leave no trace.” Nanaua said after finishing her last bite. “We saw it firsthand when Tonatiuh was killed.”

  “The Goddess was here?” Zaire asked with rising excitement in between bites.

  “Her or one of her messengers.” Corin replied, wiping his hands of breadcrumbs. “Whoever they are, they’re long gone. Let us continue.”

  Corin and the others delved deeper into the crumbling temple. Several hallways were blocked by rubble, making it impossible to pass.

  “It has been a while since I have seen a fallen Dragon temple look this bad,” Corin said.

  “Not all crashes are the same.” Nanaua replied. “And not all crashes are guided to the ground with magic.”

  “Fair enough.” Corin replied as they continued.

  The group trudged along slowly through the building, finding more signs of recent life amid the crumbling infrastructure.

  “There!” Zaire exclaimed as he pointed at a small dragon statuette.

  He ran up and looked underneath it, grabbing the familiar bags that Corin had seen time and time again.

  “So what exactly do you make with the powder?” Corin asked as Zaire stowed them away.

  “I’ve been able to make quite a certain number of things with it.” Zaire began. “In order for me to escape from Telletiuh’s palace, I created many traps with the powder that helped me against the first wave of Zifors that were sent against me.”

  “What kind of traps?” Nanaua asked curiously.

  “I filled a box with metal shards and powder. I assume it had to be effective because Yoren Kuro would have been the first to be sent after me, and I never saw him after I left the palace.” Zaire replied with a smirk.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “What about the flaming ball you threw when the Zifors attacked?” Corin asked.

  “Ah, these.” Zaire said as he pulled out a small round object from his robe. “I call these fire shells.”

  He gave it to Corin. It fit comfortably in his palm, and its surface was rough. The surface seemed to be covered in straw, but Corin could smell some of the black powder embedded in it.

  “This one is particularly easy to make,” Zaire said. “It requires only a small portion of the powder.”

  “But how did you light it?” Corin asked.

  “Easy,” Zaire replied. He pulled up his sleeve, and underneath it, Corin saw a black armband on his forearm. Zaire rubbed the back of his dagger across it, and sparks flew.

  “Hmph, quite clever, I must admit.” Nanaua said.

  Zaire turned to look at Nanaua. He could not betray a look of pride on his face.

  “I had other weapons as well.” Zaire said. “I make a similar item to the fire shell. That one is packed full of powder, and about twice as big as the fire shell. I put a wick on it so that there is a delay between lighting it and detonation. For those, I fill the inside with many small metal pellets so that when it explodes they shoot out everywhere. Yoren Jahar’s squad was taken out with about three of these.”

  “That’s amazing.” Corin replied. “Livia came up with so many uses for the powder, I never even considered there might be more possibilities.”

  “I can say the same thing!” Zaire replied. “Seeing that weapon you have gave me so many ideas! But first as I promised, I’ll try to get some ammunition for you.”

  “What is it, Kaha?” Nanaua said.

  Corin quickly turned to look at the wolf. The wolf growled and bared its teeth, staring at a corner toward the end of the hallway. For a split second, Corin saw the end of a robe before it went completely behind a wall.

  Corin quickly reached for his blade, but desisted at the last moment. Nanaua grabbed her pike, but Corin put his hand up.

  “Let me try talking to them.” He whispered to her.

  “We mean you no harm.” Corin said out loud as he held his hands up.

  There was no response, but Kaha kept growling.

  “We came when we saw the temple fall from the sky,” Corin said. “If you do not need our help, we understand. We are furtives who live on the ground, and if you need our help, we are more than happy to assist. If you lived in this temple, you might not know how dangerous it is for furtives now on the ground.”

  First, Corin saw a hand grasp the edge of the corner. Then he saw a small head peek out. The face belonged to a boy. Corin thought he looked no older than fourteen years of age. The boy was tanned and had curly dark hair. He reminded Corin of the people on Trinixo.

  Kaha continued growling as the boy peeked his head out of the corner.

  “Kaha, stop that.” Nanaua said as she scratched the wolf’s head.

  “Are you hungry?” Corin asked.

  “No,” the boy replied. He spoke softly, making it hard to hear him.

  “Of course, there was still ample food here.” Corin replied. “Are you alone?”

  The boy didn’t reply.

  “If you are here by yourself, you can come with us,” Corin said.

  “Corin,” Zaire spoke low so that the boy couldn’t hear him, “we are headed toward a battlefield in a war against Titans. This child will be in danger!”

  “I know that,” Corin replied loudly. “But what other options does he have? Stay here? He will eventually run out of food. Then what? If he goes out there by himself, how will he survive? We can find a spot for him to hide in before we reach the furtive army. There must be somewhere that he can forage for supplies and survive. He does not need to come with us to where the army is.”

  Zaire looked at Corin and then the boy.

  “Fine.” Zaire acquiesced.

  “I’m Corin.” He began by pointing to himself, “This is Zaire. The dragoor is Nanaua and the wolf is Kaha. The forest elf is Ciana.”

  Corin finished, but the boy did not speak. He only stared.

  “What is your name, child?” Nanaua asked.

  “The furtive army.” The boy spoke. “Are you all headed in that direction?”

  Corin was surprised; he wondered why the boy would be curious about it.

  “That is what we have been trying to do.” Corin replied. “But finding it has been harder than expected.”

  “I can help you find them!” The boy said with growing anxiety. “I overheard them talking after the woman took them away.”

  “Where?” Nanaua shouted. “Where are they going?”

  The boy recoiled in fear when Nanaua shouted.

  “Nanua.” Corin quietly admonished her.

  “My apologies.” She said as she looked at the boy.

  “Could you please tell us where the army is headed?” Nanaua’s tone was more pleasant now.

  “I’ll only tell you if you promise to take me.” The boy responded.

  “You want to go with us to where the furtive army is?” Corin asked. “They are fighting against Titans! It’s too dangerous for you.”

  “I don’t care!” The boy yelled, his voice breaking as he teared up. “My brother! They took him! I don’t know where he went, but my older brother! They talked about this big army they are building, and he agreed to join them! I hid from them because I was scared, but I’ve never been without my brother. Please just take me to them. I just want to go see him again!”

  Corin stared at the child. For a moment he felt as if he were staring at a younger version of himself. He was not standing in the middle of a crumbling structure, but in his home in Bothia, pleading for his brother.

  “Child, you do not understand-” Zaire began.

  “You have our word.” Corin spoke up.

  Zaire was caught off guard. He looked at Corin with a perplexed expression.

  “You tell us how to find the army and we will help you get there.” He added.

  The boy’s face beamed. It was the first time Corin had seen him smile.

  “You’ll take me to my brother?” The boy asked.

  Zaire kept looking at Corin, concerned about what was occurring.

  “What else do you suggest?” Corin asked Zaire.

  Zaire turned to look at the boy and Corin.

  “But the Zifors. They could still be following me!” Zaire said.

  “So we leave him here?”

  “We don’t have to lead him to the army!” Zaire said.

  Corin knew Zaire was right, but deep within him a strong urge stirred him to fight.

  “We’ll make sure he can reach his brother, he would probably be safer with them.” Corin argued.

  “Do you even know what you are asking boy?” Zaire asked as he turned to the boy.

  “If you don’t take me to him then I won’t tell you where they are!” He replied to Zaire.

  “Ciana?” Zaire asked as he looked to her.

  “If you want to reach the army, there is no other choice.” Ciana told him.

  Zaire shook his head, but he desisted.

  “We’ll take you child.” Nanaua said. “But under one condition.”

  “Anything!” The boy replied.

  “Our journey is fraught with danger. We will do our best to protect you, but you must promise that if anything were to happen to us, that you will run and not stop until you are safe. Do you accept?” She asked the boy.

  “I- I do!” The boy replied.

  “Good.” Nanaua said.

  “One more thing.”

  “What is it?” The boy asked.

  Your name?” Corin asked.

  “Oh, I am Natwar.” The boy replied.

  ***

  “How about this?” Zaire asked Corin.

  “Are you sure it will work this time?” He asked with a concerned tone.

  “I told you I made sure it would work this time!” Zaire replied, sounding upset.

  “I am only asking. Last time I almost choked on all the smoke that came out!” He replied.

  “I know, I just didn’t know how to properly pack in the ammunition, but I fixed it!” Zaire said.

  “I’m almost sure it will work.” Zaire said in a lower tone.

  “I will ignore that.” Corin said as he grabbed the ammunition and loaded it into the pistol.

  “What did you say?” Zaire asked.

  “Nothing, nothing.” He replied.

  “All of you ready?” Corin asked the others.

  Ciana stood next to a tree and Kaha lay at her feet. Natwar, stood behind Nanaua. The last time Corin had attempted to fire the gun, it failed spectacularly and scared him.

  “Alright here we go.” Corin said.

  He aimed the pistol at the ground.

  “Ready?” Zaire asked him.

  Corin nodded.

  Zaire threw a half-eaten apple into the air. Corin aimed and shot.

  BOOM!

  The shot rang loudly through the forest. Corin’s arm flew back from the recoil. The apple was nowhere to be seen.

  “Haha!” Zaire exclaimed. “I told you I got it right this time! It worked!”

  He started jumping up and down with glee.

  Corin instantly pointed the gun down.

  “Next time, put less powder in the bullet!” He admonished Zaire.

  “What? Why?” Zaire asked.

  “What do you mean, why? My arm almost came off!” Corin shouted.

  “Alright, alright.” Zaire exclaimed. “I’ll adjust the powder if that’s what you want.”

  “What happened to the apple?” Natwar asked.

  “Corin hit it with his shot.” Nanaua said.

  “Huh?” Natwar replied.

  “Hmm.” Nanaua stopped to think. “Think of it as throwing a small rock very, very fast.”

  Natwar looked at the pistol and then at the area where the fruit had been.

  “Wow!” he exclaimed.

  “I’ll get to work on making more now!” Zaire told all of them and returned to his small work area.

  They had been following Natwar’s directions for two days.

  “Before they left, the woman said that the furtive army would reach the foot of the twin mountains in five days.” Natwar had told them.

  From then on, it had been Ciana who had been guiding them along their way to the twin mountains. At their current pace, Ciana expected them to reach the area in three more days. Corin felt on edge. He knew that once they reached the army, they would be at the center of a battle between the furtives and the Titans. He needed something to help him calm his nerves.

  “Nanaua, do you wish to spar?” he asked her.

  “Hmph, what sort of question is that, Corin.” She said with a large smile. She grabbed her pike.

  “Come!” she told him.

  “While you practice, I will go to the trees.” Ciana said and walked off. Kaha followed after her.

  Corin and Nanaua found a clearing large enough in the forest. They stood at opposite ends. Natwar stood on the edge looking at them.

  “Come at me! And do not hold back!” Nanaua shouted at Corin.

  He did as Nanaua instructed. He lunged at Nanaua with all his might; he had no intention of holding back. As he closed the distance, he swung at Nanaua, doing everything he could to break her guard, to find an area where he could attack from. Despite his best efforts, Nanaua was able to parry every blow from Corin, ensuring that no attack even came near her.

  Nanaua swiped Corin’s blade to the side, throwing him off balance, which she followed with a sweep of her pole to his feet. Corin saw it coming and deftly avoided it. Regaining his footing, Corin saw an opening, and he took it. Lunging toward her, he saw as Nanaua quickly let go of the pike. Her hands free, she grabbed his wrists and in mere moments, Corin was airborne. The next moment he landed hard on his back, and he gasped for air.

  “Ow.” Corin said as lay on the ground. “I… I really thought I could get you this time.”

  He wheezed as he struggled to breathe. Nanaua stood over him.

  “Good one Corin, you were close that time!” Nanaua said while she looked down at him. “I even had to let go of my pike. While there was a brief moment that you could have seized when I dropped the pike, you reacted too eagerly. Let me know when you are able to spar once more, every time you keep improving.”

  “Of course.” Corin whimpered. “I’m sure I’ll get you next time.”

  “Can you teach me how to fight?” A voice spoke from the edge.

  Corin turned his head to see Natwar staring at Nanaua. His eyes were brimming with determination.

  “What for?” Nanaua replied.

  “To join my brother in the furtive legion!” Natwar replied. “I was too scared when the Goddess came by, and I let that chance go. But this must be a sign! With your arrival, if I learn how to fight, I can show that I can fight, that I can help against the Titans! I want to stand next to my brother and face the Titans!”

  Corin saw the boy’s determination, burning brightly in his eyes.

  “That is very brave of you.” Nanaua began. “But there is not enough time for me to teach you anything of value before we meet up with the furtive army. At best you would go in with a misplaced sense of martial aptitude and end up getting yourself killed quickly. Meet with your brother and have him teach you how to fight.”

  Corin was slow to stand up and prepared to say something to Natwar but the boy cut him off.

  “But, but I want to fight! I don’t want to be a coward anymore!” Natwar yelled. “All my life I have hidden behind my brother! And when the Goddess took him, I was too scared to show my face! I don’t want to be scared anymore! I want to join my brother in the fight against the Titans! Tiuente took everything from my brother and I, and now that I’m free of him I’ll do anything to fight against the Titans! Even if it costs me my life!”

  “Natwar, what Nanaua is saying-” Corin began.

  “No!” Natwar yelled. “I want to stand and fight!”

  As soon as he was done, Natwar ran into the forest.

  “Natwar!” Corin yelled and started making his way to him.

  “Let him be.” Nanaua said, holding Corin by his arm.

  “I can’t let him just go by himself!”

  “He just needs time to calm down.” Nanaua said, still holding onto his arm. “If he’s not back by nightfall, I’ll go with Ciana to look for him.”

  Corin kept staring into the woods, to where Natwar had run.

  He looked back to Nanaua.

  “What do you think of him? Is he courageous or a fool?” He asked.

  “Demonstrating courage does not exclude you from being a fool.” Nanaua replied, looking to where Natwar had fled.

  “So you still feel the same way?” Corin asked her after a moment of silence. “You do not wish to join the furtive army? Even after all that has happened recently?”

  Nanaua did not shift her gaze toward Corin.

  “The only thing I want is to be reunited with Zhi and see that our friends from Seingen are safe. Anything beyond that is of no concern to me.” She replied, and bent to grab her pike.

  She turned to Corin.

  “Do you wish to speak or do you wish to spar?”

  Corin collected his thoughts.

  “You’re right.” He began as he grabbed his blade. “Let’s practice while we still have time.”

  Corin tried his best to focus on the challenger in front of him. But there was no use. Natwar’s words echoed through his head. Something within him stirred. An emergent desire to stand next to other furtives, in arms against the Titans.

  Corin also wanted to fight.