Starlighter

Just a little school project I had to do for a short story unit. Enjoy. Took me a couple hours. It was inspired by Bryan Davis's book of the same name.

Starlighter

“Stay alert, stay close, stay safe.”

Sorrel and her little brother ran through the crowded streets of Erif Drazil, fighting their way through the throng of people and dragons.

Erif Drazil was the capital of D’nal Nogard, a world where dragons ruled and humans were their slaves. There were very few free humans at this time, as most were kept under dragon houses, serving the family of dragons living there in return for food and shelter.

“Will they catch us, Sorrel?” The little boy asked, gripping his sister’s hand in his and a loaf of bread in the other.

“Not if I can help it.” Sorrel huffed, pulling her brother along as fast as their legs would carry them. “But if they do, Kale, stay alert, but stay quiet and leave the the talking to me.”

“Stop them! Thieves!” Came the cry again from behind them.

Glancing back, she saw that they had nearly lost the fat baker that gave pursuit. She laughed as his fuming face was swallowed up in the throng. Then she bumped into something hard and the two were thrown to the ground.

“Watch where you’re going, slaves.” A dragon’s gravely voice said from high above. His sharp face came down to meet hers. “If you don’t start paying mind to your lords.” He flashed white teeth.

“Sorry, sir!” She gasped, picking her and Kale up and rushing on, under the dragon’s scaly body. 

“Stop!” A humongous tail crashed to the road, blocking their path and sending them both to the ground again. “I don’t think you realize who you’re talking too.” A growl began rising in the dragon’s throat, sending hot air into Sorrel’s face and ruffling her thin dress.

“No sir. Sorry sir.” She tried once again to push past the dragon, but his growl rose and she had to stay rooted in place.

“I am Rimidalv Ironscale, captain of the guard and King Eilrach’s head advisor.” He ground out every word, fixing an angry eye on the two grubby children.

Sorrel opened her mouth to speak: “I--”

“Gotchya!” A heavy hand clamped down on her shoulder and she screamed in surprise. “Got ya, ya dingy beggar!” The baker’s round face leered over her, furiously red and gasping like a landed trout. “You wont be stealing my bread again, ya wont, not when me’s finished with ya.”

“Let me go!” Sorrel screamed, struggling under the man’s iron grip. “We didn’t steal a thing from you!”

“Sure ya did, yer little blighter pinched a loaf while ya accidentally knocked over a shelf a  fresh pasties.”

“We have no bread!” She insisted, trying to separate herself from the man. Kale peaked  big blue eyes from under an over sized hat, splaying out his empty arms.

“Enough.” Bellowed Rimidalv, who had been listening, the whole time breathing hot air down Sorrel’s neck.

The baker seemed to suddenly notice the dragon and dropped the girls arm hurriedly, fumbling to remove his hat and shrinking into his boots. Which, Sorrel noted, where so small that the man’s round ankles hung out of them. The baker bowed his bald head low, wringing his hat.

The dragon frowned. “You are a baker.” It was more of a statement than a question. “What did they take from you?”

“Two loaves of bread.”

Rimidalv swung his head around to the children, locking a deadly stare upon them. “Is this true?”

Dare she lie to a dragon, much less one so high a position as this?

“No sir.” Sorrel shook her head furiously, as did Kale, which sent his hat flying off his head, revealing the bread hidden there.

Sorrel could have screamed, or maybe cried.

The dragon only repeated the question more firmly, more angrily, less patience. “Is this true?”

She swallowed hard and nodded miserably. Her voice was barely audible. “Yes sir.”

Rimidalv turned to Leaf. I will notify their master and have them disposed of.”

Kale’s eyes grew wide and he clutched his sister’s hand. She looked down at him sadly then at the people around them. They avoided her gaze and hurried on, pretending they had heard and seen nothing. Tugging at her thin dress, her brother whispered: “Please, Sorrel, tell a story.”

“Let’s go, slaves.” The dragon ordered, claws sweeping towards them.

“No!” Sorrel pleaded. “Please, let me explain. You can’t take us away, you can’t.”

The dragon’s large head swooped down to her angrily. “And why not, pray?”

She had to look at her feet in order to regain some bravery. “Because… our mother you see. She needs us.”

Rimidalv’s frown only thinned impatiently so she hurried on.

“She needs us, you see.” Dropping Kale’s hand she stepped toward the great dragon hands outspread, empty.

“Kale does not remember, he was too young, but I do. We once had a father.” Sorrel raised he hands above her head. As she spoke, her tale became vivid and the scenes seemed to appear around her. “He was tall and handsome, working hard all day so mother could stay with us. He loved us, you see, and we loved him too.” 

Next to the girl could almost be seen a young man, kind eyes, weathered face, coming to his family with open arms. A wide smile was spread across his face. “But one day a man came home to us. It was not father. He had come to say that father had died in an accident.” Sorrel closed her eyes painfully. A darkness hung in the air, sad and empty. A single tear ran down her’s cheek as she continued. “Mother cried and cried. Father never came home to us. We didn’t know what to do.”

Like a misty vision, a young woman held a little boy, kissing the top of his red head as he cried, litter girl clinging to her skirts. Her blue eyes were filled with anxiety.

“Mother went to work in place of father. She would come home exhausted, and I would hear her crying at night as I lay in bed. She cried for father, for us.” The girl placed folded hands against her wet cheek. “Then one day mother became sick, and unable to work. She lays in bed, even now, so ill she can not sit up.” Sorrel took her place beside her brother, tearstained face smiling weakly down at him. “I took mothers place at work, striving hard so that we may survive. Without us, she will perish.” The trance faded, leaving a lingering feeling of sorrow.

Blubbering, the baker had tears running down his fat face.

The dragon only blinked, but Sorrel knew that he too had been moved. Then he shook his head, as though clearing a fog. “Go home. Take the bread.”

“Oh thank you sir, you have no idea how grateful-”

“Now. Before I change my mind.”

Sorrel closed her lips tightly. Kale picked up the fallen loaf and followed his sister, but they had not gotten far with Rimidalv called after them. “Girl!”

She glanced back warily. “Yes sir?”

His sharp eyes bore into her. “What is your name?”

Gulping down the urge to flee, she said: “Sorrel, sir. Sorrel Leaf.”

“And your master?”

“Salis Redwing.”

Rimidalv nodded, spread his wings and took to the cloudy dark sky.

Sorrel squeezed her brothers hand and they hurried off, back to their home.

Closing the door carefully so it didn’t creak, Sorrel and Kale tiptoed into the servant’s house. Their bare feet pattered quietly on the cold stone floor. Voices echoes off the tall ceilings, coming from the kitchen down the dark hall.

“Salis is in an uproar again… try not to bother… nearly killed him…”

The two children passed the open door way, stepping into the light that streamed into the hall and back into the shadows.

The chatter halted abruptly. “Was that you, Sorrel?”

Freezing in place, Sorrel answered: “Yes, Mrs. Stem?”

“Salis wanted to see you for something. He said to see him right away.”

Salis? Why would Salis want to see her? Had he found out about something she had done?

“Okay Mrs. Stem, I’ll go to him once I see mother.” She said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Mrs. Stem sighed. “Alright dear. And Sorrel?”

“Yes?”

“Good luck.”

Ushering Kale down the hall at a fast pace, Sorrel whispered to him harshly. “Don’t mention this to mother. She must not know what is going on. You stay here with her while I go see Salis. And take that bread out of your hat.”

They made there way to the servant quarters and up to their mother’s bed, close to the fire. Mrs. Leaf lay covered in as many extra sheets as could be found, but she still shivered, even next to the fire. Her tired eyes opened as soon as they entered the room.

Kale slipped a hand under her covers, searching for a hand to hold. Hers met his and gave it a weak squeeze. “Hallo, mum.” He said, giving a weak smile.

“Hallo darling.” Mrs. Leaf’s lips lifted at the corners. Her voice was loving, small, and frail. “How was your day?”

He sat down on the floor, still grasping her hand. “It was… interesting.”

“Was it? How so?”

Sorrel cleared her throat. “Kale, will you go grab a spoon from the kitchen? And whatever else you can find.”

He reluctantly got up, letting his mother’s had slip from his, and went out the door.

Next to the bed lay a cup of water for Mrs. Leaf. It was empty so Sorrel took and began to fill it with water from the kettle over the fire.

“Do you have something to tell me?”

Sorrel jumped. She had not expected Mrs. Leaf to speak. Somehow she always knew when her children had done something they maybe shouldn’t have.

Sorrel unhooked the kettle. “We got some bread for you.” She did not have to meet her mothers eyes to know she was troubled by this.

“Where did you get it?”

Sorrel tried not to pour boiling water all over her shaking hand. “A baker in the market square.”

Mrs. Leaf sighed. “Did you steal it, darling?”

Sorrel forced a laugh. “That’s what the baker said.” She sobered as she filled the cup. Her voice was barely a whisper. “A dragon heard him. He believed him and was going to… take us away.”

There was a small gasp, then a cough. “What did you do?”

Tracing the rim of the chipped cup, Sorrel sat on the floor, facing the bed, not looking up. “I told him a story.” Then she did look up. Her mother was smiling. Sorrel was not sure if it was filled with sadness, disappointment, hope?

“You have a great gift dear. The power of the Starlighter is a mighty one, treasured and coveted. There are legends and songs written about the ones before you. Some day you will be great,  Sorrel, Enna, Leaf. You must promise me you will use your gift wisely and to the good of others.” Mrs. Leafs head lifted slightly off the straw mattress. “Do you promise me this?”

Sorrel reached for her mother’s outstretched hand, entwining the weak fingers in her earth covered ones. “Yes mother. I promise.”

Then they were silent until Kale returned. Sorrel prepared a meager meal for her mother and left Kale with her, making her way to Salis’s main room.

He waited for her, tall and furious. As she entered the massive room his amber eyes locked on her tiny frame, boring into her and daring her to step out of line. She could hardly find the courage to make her eyes meat his. Instead her eyes traveled to another dragon standing by him. Rimidalv. There was no tell-tale on his face to tell why he might be here. Had he changed his mind about letting her go?

She stopped before the dragons, bowing respectively and waiting to be addressed.

“Sorrel Leaf.” The words echoed off the walls, deep and grating. Salis lifted his head and looked down his muzzle, studying her. “Rimidalv has some… interesting demands for you and I. His majesty the king wishes to be of possession of you. What possible use he could have for you I do not know.” Salis shot a look at Rimidalv and his guttural laugh sent shivers down Sorrel’s spine, despite the dragon fire heat of the room.

Rimidalv did not smile. Turning from the other dragon he motioned to Sorrel. “Come. I am a busy stallion and do not have time to trifle with mere humans.”

Sorrel opened her mouth to speak, but seeing Salis watching her with eyes like slits she clamped it shut again and followed Rimidalv out a vaulting archway and into the open air beyond.

She had to run as fast as she could to keep up with him until he finally slowed once Salis was out of sight. Then he turned to her, walking very slowly so that she may keep up with his long strides.

“You must know why I am here.” His voice was less gruff, not exactly kind, but careful.

Sorrel’s heart beat wildly. “I do not think I do, sir.” She stared hard at the dark shadow cast by the creature beside her. “Is it… is it because of what I did earlier.”

“Yes.” But there was no warning of death in his strong voice. “That is why I have come for you. Once I had left you I went to speak with some elders in the kings court.”

Elders? Simply for a criminal sentence? There was no way that -

“We agree that you must be taken to the castle and taken care of.”

She clenched and unclenched sweaty fists. “Oh.”

Rimidalv seemed to smile. “You will be a great Starlighter.”

Sorrel stopped. Her feet refused to move another step. “How did…?” Then her mouth froze too, a perplexed ‘o’. 

The dragon rounded on her, uncharacteristically excited. “Your story was astonishingly vivid. I could see everything as though it were right in front of me. I could feel what you felt. Once you had finished it took me a moment to realize what had happened. Then I realized. You are one of the legendary Starlighters.” This last sentence was whispered reverently. “I did not tell Salis in fear he would wish to keep you to himself. He does not know this, does he?”

Sorrel shook her head. “What will happen to me?”

Rimidalv continued on again, this time at a faster pace. “You will live in King Eilrahc’s fortress, and train.”

Unable to believe it she asked: “What will become of my family?”

“Family? They will come to live with you.”

They came to a large pad built for dragons to land a take flight. “Climb aboard, small one.”

Sorrel’s eyes grew wide. “I could not.” It was a great shame for a dragon and a great honor for a human to ride it’s back. Only the most powerful or esteemed would ride on the back of a mighty dragon.

“Hop on, Starlighter. There are great things in store for you.”

Sorrel smiled. This was how she would be able to use her gift. To help her family. To help others. And this was only the beginning.