The Expedition, Chapter 14

 She took a deep breath and sat down, listening hard.

"Why are you here?" the powerful voice asked, rumbling her chest.

"I would like to know the answer to that, too," Amelia said. "I was washed ashore and barely survived. I met a kind tribe who took me in. And I was betrayed by my father." She paused, listening for any other movement. "I am here because my people plan to attack and destroy the temple, but I cannot climb the mountain to warn them."

"Your people?" the voice asked.

"The Mal'a'kai people," she said, feeling close to tears. "And their goddess Kayala. My father is planning to destroy the temple today. They helped me! And he is just going to loot the temple for himself. And he is using a stupid dragon to help him."

She heard a low rumble of laughter come from deep in the cave. "This sounds like a foolish plan for someone to implement."

"It is," Amelia agreed, "and my father doesn't care about anything except his wealth and power. I can't tell anyone about it."

"And what of the genie you carry?"

"Shayanna?" Amelia blinked. "She is trapped in there, and I am scared for her. Wait, how did you know about the genie?"

The voice chuckled. "Because I am older than this land, child, and I am aware of the world's magic around me."

"Oh," Amelia said, feeling her heart skip a beat. "I didn't know that."

"Your people have no idea what I am," the voice said in a low growl.

"A dragon?" Amelia asked.

The voice was silent for a moment.

"Yes."

A giant blue and white female dragon emerged from the darkness.

"Oh," Amelia said, her body shaking. "I'm sorry I called you stupid. Please don't kill me."

"I have not killed you," the dragon said, staring at Amelia with one eye narrowed. "And I never will."

Amelia looked around the cavern nervously. "Okay, if you won't kill me, then what will you do?"

The dragon stepped into the sunlight shining on the cavern floor. "I am Sapphire, and I am the only dragon to survive in these lands for centuries."

"Wow," Amelia whispered in awe. "And you know my father?"

"I do." The dragon closed her eyes and shook her head. "I should have killed him when he first met me, but he had gold, and it was all I needed back then. I had debts to pay, and reluctantly, he paid them. It ended a lot of trouble for me I would rather not deal with. But I promised him a favor." She opened her eyes, and her face showed no expression.

Amelia tried to ignore the way she looked at her as she explained the story. "And he came to collect that favor by asking for the temple, for you to destroy it?"

The dragon nodded. "And you want to warn your friends in the tribe that I am coming."

Amelia nodded. "They are the people I am worried about."

"I do not wish to destroy the temple," Sapphire said, "but I can stop your father and his men from entering the temple with their armies."

"And you'll protect me?" Amelia asked.

Sapphire nodded.

"Good," Amelia sighed, feeling relieved. "Because my father has many men and more magic. He will likely use the magic to try to kill you. I don't want to see a beautiful dragon die."

The dragon chuckled. "Beautiful? What makes you think I am beautiful?"

Amelia shrugged. "I don't know. I like dragons, and I am sorry. Please don't be mad."

The dragon closed her eyes again. "No one has seen a dragon since I came here. I thought my kind had all been wiped out, but I was wrong. And now that we are back, I must protect the innocent people here." She opened her eyes and looked at Amelia. "The attacks are about to begin, and if you stay here, you will die."

Amelia blinked in surprise. "But, I have nowhere to go. And it is cold here."

"I can carry you on my back, and you will be warm. Come, before it grows too dark to see where we are going."

Amelia hesitated. "Where are we going?"

Sapphire smiled. "To the temple."

The journey from the cavern to the mountain took a little while. The dragon carried her on her back, but it wasn't easy to keep her balance. Amelia clung tightly to the dragon's neck to avoid falling off, but staying in place was difficult for her. It wasn't until she held onto the dragon's neck that she realized how big Sapphire was: she was big enough to carry a house with her. The journey seemed so long to her because it was, in fact, quite quick, but the entire trip took less than an hour.

They flew over the desert and saw the campfires of her father's mercenaries. And while they were still in the distance, Amelia spotted the white dome of the temple at the top of the mountain.

"There it is!" she said, pointing.

"What do you think?" Sapphire asked. "Will you be able to warn the priestesses?"

"I will," Amelia said. "I promise."

"Then let us hurry," Sapphire said, and they sped up their flight.

"Wait, I haven't told you my name," Amelia said in surprise. "I am Amelia Von Zinzer. I am a warrior who fought alongside the tribe to protect their sacred shrine."

"I know, child," the dragon said. "I have seen many things. I know your name and everything about you."

"You have? Then, how do you know my name?"

"Your father told me," Sapphire explained.

"Oh, that's right," Amelia said in embarrassment. She shook her head and sighed, "You should have killed him years ago."

The dragon flew closer to the camp and saw the mercenaries preparing for battle, but they did not seem ready for the attack yet. They were still gathered around the campfires, sitting on logs and rocks or in tents drinking beer, eating food, and laughing loudly, having fun and celebrating the coming battle.

"He has so many men," Amelia whispered in shock.

"Yes," Sapphire replied. "Many men with powerful weapons."

Amelia sighed. "They are here to kill and steal. It is like he wants to start a war between the tribes to weaken them until he can conquer them."

"Do you think they will succeed?" Sapphire asked.

Amelia shook her head. "The tribes have been at war with each other since the first of them came here from the sea. I don't think they will ever stop fighting."

"Why do they do this? If you are here, and these other people come from far away to take your home, why don't they leave and find another?"

Amelia thought about it for a moment. "It's difficult to explain. I can't say it doesn't make sense, but I don't want to die trying to figure it out, and neither do you."

Amelia smiled and pointed. "Look! We're here."

They flew through the clouds and circled above the temple.

Sapphire spotted Amelia's father, General Von Zinzer, standing outside the tent, commanding his men. The mercenary army was still gathering outside the camp, preparing for battle. He was looking up at the dragon, as were most of his men.

Amelia waved to him.

She could see the expression on his face.