A Dream of Scattered Roses

Elle and her company took shelter in the glass caves, watching their aerial attacker through a translucent ceiling. Scarlet wings ushered in the setting sun, obscuring the rose fields, save for the bursts of fiery breath that murdered everything in its path. Her muscles fatigued from fleeing, her mind exhausted by her companions’ stupidity, and her magic nearly depleted, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could cloak their location.

“We need to get the Prominence. It’s our only chance.” Albus shouted, pacing aimlessly with his sword drawn.

“Yeah, no shit,” Kaia placed a hand on Elle’s shoulder. “What can I do to help?”

Kaia was young and smart and a promising mage in her own right. But she was a few decades shy of being of any real help in this moment. But her nimble feet and adolescent stamina gave her the best chance at running for her life.

“The ruin,” Elle said. “Do you see it? Two furlongs west. The Prominence will be in there. It’ll be the size of your fist, shapeless. Light as an apple, glowing like a lantern. Grab it and meet us by the oak tree.”

“This is my command,” Albus said sternly. A few moments passed before he opened his mouth again. “Do all that stuff, but when you get back, give me the Prominence. You wouldn’t know the first thing about talking to Dragons. An artifact like that. A girl like you. It would melt your mind like iron in a forge.”

Less than half Elle’s age, Albus was named captain of this mission by the Lord Regent. Not even native to the region, and with precisely zero adventures under his belt, he was deemed a more worthy leader than she. Thirty-seven expeditions, forty years a mage, fifteen as High Enchantress, yet still not enough to earn the respect of any man in court. And now, she was going to die following the orders of a boy who clung to the cloaks of his ancestors.

Grifton, the final member of their band, was tall and slim, with a smile as crooked as his bow and a tongue as sharp as his arrows. “Right you are, my lord. Best leave the beast taming to us. Stick to healing the men after battle. Know where you’re needed and where you’re not.”

“Killed many dragons, have you?” Kaia snapped. “Because last I heard, dragons haven’t roamed these parts for nearly four hundred years.”

“Kaia,” Elle mustered what little energy she had left, “I’m going to let go now. It will be able to see us. Run. Run as fast as you can. I’ll set a distraction.” She grabbed an arrow from Grifton’s quiver and enchanted it with a cacophonous spell. “Aim for the furthest hill you can see.”

Elle fell backward. Sleep took her before she hit the ground. A mage’s sleep. Far deeper and far shorter than a night’s rest. Somewhere between slumber and death, where the dreams aren’t yours, and the nightmares have names.

She was on a barren field where heavy clouds rained rose petals. 

When she spoke, her voice boomed like thunder, and though she couldn’t see anyone, she somehow knew they were listening. Not just hearing her voice but heeding her words. And as the scattered roses were whisked away by the gentle breeze, something strong was in their place: little girls learning their letters. 

Then a voice called to her, “Elle. I have it.”

“Wake up. I have it.” It was Kaia’s voice. And when Elle opened her eyes, she was by the oak tree.

“Give it here.” Albus demanded, trying to pry the Prominence from Kaia’s hands.

The girl refused as long as she could before Grifton slapped her and knocked her to the ground. The two briefly struggled before Albus’s scream pulled their attention toward the west. When Elle followed suit, she saw that the dragon had perched itself on a nearby stone and was cocking its head back, flames gargling in its throat.

Albus made it a few steps before the skin melted off his bones. Grifton fired a quiver full of arrows and was promptly flattened under the weight of its gigantic paw.

Kaia threw the Prominence in her direction. Its scarlet glow illuminated the air as it landed in Elle’s palm. 

Elle cracked it open and drank the liquid within.

She heard a voice. Deep. Soft. Warm.

“Well, well, well. That’s what this feels like, huh?” the dragon japed.

“Please don’t kill the girl. Kill me if you must, but not the girl.”

“Why does your kind keep shooting at me?”

“Why do you keep eating all our sheep and burning our houses?” Elle asked firmly.

“Honestly? I’m just tired of my father and brothers getting to have all the fun. While they’re out burning shit, who do you think has to stay back and guard the treasure? The daughter, that’s who. I’m sick of it.”

“Sounds all too familiar. The ones you just killed. Those are the sons who get chosen over us daughters every day.”

The dragon, for as much as Elle could tell, sighed.

“Maybe we can help each other.” Elle placed the Prominence on the ground. “With time, we can use this to control you. Find somewhere else to terrorize, and it’s yours.”

“Funny little thing, you are. I can kill you in an instant.”

“I know. You have all the power. But that also means you have the power to help us. You can kill us and prove to everyone that the daughters aren’t worthy of glory. Or we broker a deal, woman to woman. And let us be the fucking heroes for once.”

The monster popped the Prominence with a cusped nail.

“Truce,” the deep voice said as it faded from Elle’s head.

The dragon crawled through the rose field, thorns exploding against her scales. And as she soared through the air, petals rained around Elle and Kaia.

In the field.

And at the triumph through the city.