(Starla)
A few days later, they came at night. Our dining hall appeared small in their presence. There were two of them, along with a few sentries who carried wooden boxes inside. Tons and tons of wooden boxes.
Tall and lean, they had thick obsidian horns curving from their temples and slit-pupiled red eyes. Jagged black scales cloaked their bare shoulders. Their jaws hinged wide, revealing pointed teeth. They stood at least 7 feet tall, terrifying and yet fascinating in their sleeveless fur coats.
"Welcome to our Starlight Clan," my father respectfully said. They ignored him and my brother.
"So you are the guide." The one standing in front pointed a long finger at me, and I nodded with a gulp. Hoping they wouldn’t detect any foul play.
"I am Yamil, S-Ranked Dragon Shifter and second in command to the Wardens of the Wall. I am here to retrieve the guide for our Commanders."
There were two of them. I nodded with understanding, gulping hard.
"Test results?" he asked in a thick voice.
My brother scrambled forward, handing them the papers. He was almost salivating, his greedy eyes wavering to boxes again and again.
He flipped through them, his ruby eyes taking everything in before they wavered towards my father.
"We don’t like you or your people. Nor do we care. This is a necessity so that we will be taking your daughter. In case our Wardens reject her, or she is not a suitable match for them. She will not be returned. Once we take someone, there is no coming back. Do you understand?"
My father’s grieved eyes flickered towards me, and I offered him a reassuring smile. The wealth they had brought would help build a new healing clinic and school. It would bring prosperity to the clan, and they might not have to send another girl beyond the wall for a long time.
"I agree to your terms," I confidently answered in place of my father.
The Beastman raised his brow at me, maybe taken aback by my boldness.
"10,000 gold coins as negotiated." He pointed to the boxes.
My brother almost drooled.
"Greedy humans," Yamil said in revulsion, seeing my brother’s reaction.
My father uneasily shifted on his feet.
Yamil handed the papers to the one standing behind him. "We will be leaving. A few more minutes and I will suffocate in this place." He scrunched his nose as if our smells disgusted him.
"Say your farewell." I had already said goodbye to Sirela. She was staying with her friend, too terrified to face the beastmen.
My father hugged me, placing a kiss on my forehead. "I will miss you. Take care, Starla."
"You too." I exhaled; a heaviness crushed my chest. My brother was too busy hugging the treasure boxes.
I picked up my single suitcase and threw a forlorn look towards my home. Doodles jumped forward and trotted between Yamil’s legs, purring softly.
That was strange. He threw her a confused look and then his gaze lifted towards me.
"She is my cat; she is coming along," I said with finality.
"Whatever, move along."
We left the house, and I found an ebony-shaded carriage hauled by two creatures which appeared like a cross between a horse and a hawk.
"Get in," the man holding the papers told me in a rough voice. My father helped me place the suitcase inside while I picked up Doodles.
I stepped inside the carriage with one final look at my home, the place where I grew up and got my heart broken. Till three days ago, I had thought this was the place I was silently going to die, but fate had other plans.
They closed the door to the carriage. I waved my father goodbye with teary eyes. The creatures shrieked in the night. The carriage took off from the ground, rising high and high. My body jerked back. Doodles squealed in my arms, and I had to hold her tight.
These creatures hauling the carriage could fly. My heart jerked as I peeked outside from the window. We flew over Amil’s house, and I saw him standing outside on the porch, watching me with a set expression. My heart jerked one last time. Two years and I hadn’t said a word to him, and I never was going to.
Why was he even watching me?
I averted my gaze and instead observed the Black creatures under the moonlight gliding beside the carriage like living shadows. Waveryns. Their black scales gleamed with faint traces of silver and deep violet. They moved in effortless silence. What magnificent creatures these beastmen were.
My village appeared like a tiny establishment underneath. The feeling was poignant. I was leaving the place behind where people had shunned me simply because of my status as a guide, even when I gave them my everything. And yet this new venture I had chosen made me excited and nervous at the same time.
I was going to die soon, but before that, if I could make a difference for my family, for my sister, I would die with a smile on my face.
The thought of facing the Wardens, the ones who had sent for me, terrified my heart, and yet I held on. I was already dying, what more they could do? At least Sirela was safe. My heart aches for my sister.
Sleep took over amidst muddled thoughts, and I was woken when the carriage landed on the solid ground with a loud thud.
Had we arrived?
The morning had spread its colours outside. The carriage door was opened from the outside by Yamil.
"Come, let’s go. The commanders are waiting for you." Clutching Doodles to my chest, I awkwardly stepped down to not fall. The cold wind blasted me, sending a shiver running down my spine. Cold, this place was cold with a gigantic structure looming over.
I tried to grab my suitcase.
"Leave it. Someone will bring it."
I followed Yamil. Were we beyond the wall now? It seemed like a courtyard where we had landed. A single but majestic tree with red leaves and white bark stood in the center. I wanted to stay and admire its beauty but he hurried inside through a labyrinth of dark passageways. I quickly followed. The ceiling was towering, the arches wide and high. It was built to accommodate Beastmen. They were tall and broad, much taller than humans.
We encountered only a few other Beastmen; it seemed early, and everyone appeared to be sleeping.
Yamil pushed open a majestic wooden door with dragons, wyverns and other mythical creatures carved into it.
"You will go inside alone. Remember not to show fear. They hate cowardice and weakness. And beware of their dragon forms. If they don’t approve of you. You will be burnt alive," he casually told me.
"Also they hate humans, so good luck." He maliciously snickered.
Perfect! So very very convenient.
"There is one more detail, but Commander Azkan will tell you himself." Yamil appeared slightly worried, that snicker disappeared and I knew it wasn’t because of me.
What could it be?
I took a huge gulp and masked my face with an air of bravery. I was going to die anyway; what worse could happen?
The room was more like a gigantic hall with monstrous windows touching the ceiling. With shaky legs, I stepped further in and found a large white rug spread in the centre of the hall.
A man, more like a male version of a dragon, stood by the window, staring outside. He wore a black cape which flowed like a mast behind him.
Slowly, his handsome face turned towards me. Sharp cheekbones that could cut glass. A mouth set in a hard line that suggested he hadn’t smiled in a long time. Artistic nose, carved to perfection. Two black horns curved upwards from the sides of his forehead.
He was beautiful in the way a blade was beautiful, dangerous, precise, made for cutting.
His intense violet eyes trained on me. Hair like spun obsidian rested on his broad, scale-covered shoulders. He seemed to occupy the whole space without even knowing or caring.
I paused; my breath came out harshly. Heartbeat picked up as our gazes connected.
A frown crossed his forehead. He appeared irritated by my presence.
"You are the human guide." His voice was deep, and it seemed to pierce the soul.
There was only one. Weren’t they twins? Where was the other?
"Yes," my voice came out shaky.
To my horror, Doodles leapt from my lap and trotted right towards the seven-foot-tall Beastman.