442 Four Corners: Dhou part three (1/2)

”You are working with Khione?”

”What?” Sinfaya's pale face showed both pain and anger, she had one hand pressed to her chest. ”That really hurt!”

Nix stared for a moment, the dragon's face scrunched up like she was going to cry. ”The hell are you doing?”

Sinfaya ignored him and healed her wound. ”I'm part of the rebellion.” She sniffed her nose loudly, her voice shaking with emotion.

”Er...” Nix frowned and took note of his surroundings. They were no longer in the valley outside of Belatora. ”Where are we?” A quick look at his hud map told him that he was somewhere in Southern Oasis.

”We aren't very far from Fraya'Selene.” Sinfaya stowed her hammer and walked toward him. ”I used a chasm stone to randomly send you to one of a dozen areas.”

”Right... You're here too.”

Sinfaya sighed. ”I'm actually not very good at most magic. I specialize in spatial casting, unfortunately, that puts me in a support role.”

Nix grimaced as he put his weapon away. ”What kind of shit is that? Can't you breathe fire? Do you even have a dragon form?”

Sinfaya's human form morphed into a white dragon. As dragons go, she about the same size as Fey and nowhere near Deidra's size. Her scales glistened in the daylight and her lines were very sleek. An instant later Nix was bathed in white flames.

Nix gave her a deadpan look. ”Are you even an adult? What's with those weak flames?”

Sinfaya morphed back into her human form, her face red. ”You don't have to say such mean things.”

Nix frowned when she turned her back toward him and slumped her shoulders. He found himself reminded of a moment when he hurt his younger sister's feelings as a kid. Inexplicably he felt a rush of shame. ”I said too much.” He walked toward her and lay a hand on her armored shoulder, she was definitely crying. A movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. Apparently, one of the Trams was caught up in the transport. ”You okay?”

”Yes.” The black Orion answered with a distinctly feminine voice.

”Stay close to me.” Nix waited while the large black cat moved beside him. He scratched her ears out of habit before turning his attention back to Sinfaya, who was just managing to compose herself. ”Explain your relationship to the rebellion.”

Sinfaya nodded. ”My people aren't very powerful, in order to contribute, I've been fostering a force here in Mid-Everspire.”

Nix didn't have to fake a puzzled look. ”Contribute to what?”

Nix scratched his head while considering her words. ”We don't even know each other. Why would you get involved?”

Sinfaya's dark eyes watched him. ”Do you think Khione will stop if she beats you?”

”No.” Nix understood Khione's motivation, her conquest would never stop. ”How did you build the rebellion?”

”Half of them are my people in disguise. My champion is the leader of the rebellion.” Sinfaya watched his reaction to her words. ”I've been expecting your arrival for a few weeks.”

Nix's guilt climbed slightly higher. ”Where is Remis's army?”

”Dragon Fir Forest. I took advantage of their retreat into the valley to send them far away.”

”Dragon Fir? Isn't that where the trials for the Provincial Dragon Academy were held?” Nix remembered the week he spent hiding in his treehouse there while crafting.

”You know about the Academy?” Sinfaya smiled slightly for the first time. ”I guess it's true about you and Deidra.”

Nix frowned at the statement. ”What's true?”

”That Deidra has taken a human lover.”

*Cough, Cough*

”Really? Who would say something so ridiculous?” Nix felt a surge of nausea threaten to bring up his breakfast.

”Jargon inquired about it during the parade. Deidra refused to answer so I assumed it was true.”

”No. Not true.” Jargon's name caused Nix's mood to worsen. ”Why would you say that just because I know about the Academy?”

”Rumors said that Deidra brought a human challenger to the trials, but no one could confirm it.”

”Take me to the Rebel Camp. I'm already getting tired of Mid-Spire.” Nix waited while she opened a breach, he gestured for the black feline to follow and stepped through.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] You okay boss?

[Whisper: Nix to Wind] Yes. I sensed a hidden dragon, so I sent everyone away.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] Was it Jargon?

[Whisper: Nix to Wind] No. It was Sinfaya, she walked with Deidra and Tai'Qui during the parade of dragons.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] How would you know that boss? Since you didn't come with us?

[Whisper: Nix to Wind] Fine... I was flying the Titan Falcon.

[Whisper: Wind to Nix] Knew it! What should we do now?

[Whisper: Nix to Wind] Have Tai or Deidra send you back to tent city. I'll join up with you guys after I meet up with the rebellion.