Son of a Dragon
Chapter Ten – The Weight of Silence
The house was so quiet that Kaelen could hear his own heartbeat. His mother’s hands gripped his shoulders, as though her touch alone could anchor him to the world of men. His father stood between them and the Shadowbinder, axe in hand, though both men knew steel meant nothing against the stranger’s power.
“Take your chains elsewhere,” his father growled. “You’ll not have my son.”
The Shadowbinder’s eyes flicked to the weapon, then back to Kaelen. “I do not need to take him. The king will come. Armies, hunters, priests of the Flame. And when they do, they will not stop with him. They will burn this village to cinders. Everyone you know—your friends, your kin—they will perish. Not because he deserves it, but because he exists.”
Kaelen’s chest tightened. He wanted to shout that it wasn’t fair, that he hadn’t asked for this fire, this curse. But the words died on his tongue. Because deep down, he remembered the dragon’s gaze. And he knew the Shadowbinder was not lying.
The silence stretched until it broke beneath his mother’s trembling voice. “There must be another way.”
The man’s expression softened only slightly. “There is. The boy can leave quietly, before the king’s word spreads. He can go where even shadows struggle to follow. But if he stays…” His gaze lingered on Kaelen, cold and certain. “You will all be ash.”
Chapter Eleven – Fractures
That night, the village gathered again. The elders demanded Kaelen be given over. Some spoke of binding him, dragging him in chains to the capital. Others said it would be kinder to strike him down now, before worse befell them.
Kaelen sat in the dark, listening. His name was on every tongue, but not one voice was his own.
His childhood friend, Lira, rose in the square. Her voice shook but did not falter. “You call him a curse? You all cheered when his father brought back venison from the forest, when his mother healed your children. You think fire makes him less human? Shame on you!”
For a moment, the crowd wavered. Then the oldest elder, a woman with eyes like stone, hissed: “Do not be blinded by pity, girl. The boy is touched by flame. Flame consumes. Always.”
Kaelen’s hands curled into fists. He could not bear it—being spoken of like a burden, an infection, while he sat powerless. His throat ached with words he could not release.
That night, he walked into the forest alone.
Chapter Twelve – The Dragon’s Call
The woods were silent but for the crackle of his footsteps through dead leaves. Kaelen pressed his hand to his chest, feeling the thrum of fire beneath his skin.
And then he heard it—soft at first, then rising like a storm. A voice, not with words, but with weight. Come.
He stumbled, gasping, clutching his head. His vision blurred. When it cleared, he saw flames flickering between the trees—not wild, but forming shapes, patterns, as though the forest itself were bowing to something greater.
At the heart of the fire, he saw it: the dragon. Vast wings folded like mountains, golden eyes burning with recognition.
It was not truly there—its body shimmered, translucent, like smoke caught in moonlight. But its presence was crushing, filling every corner of him.
Kaelen fell to his knees. “What are you?” he whispered.
The voice rolled through his bones. Blood of mine. Child of fire. Half-born and half-forgotten. You are the chain I left upon this world.
Kaelen’s breath hitched. “Why me? Why was I born like this?”
The dragon’s gaze deepened, heavy as judgment. Because kingdoms forget what they fear. But dragons remember. Through you, my fire will rise again.
The flames flared, engulfing him. He did not burn, but the heat tore at his soul until he screamed.
When he woke, he was alone in the ashes of the forest floor. And burned into his arm was a mark—jagged, glowing faintly like a wound of light.
Chapter Thirteen – Ash Between Them
When Kaelen returned at dawn, his mother wept at the sight of the mark. His father said nothing, but the way his hands trembled on the haft of his axe spoke enough.
The Shadowbinder only stared, a flicker of awe breaking through his usual calm. “So it is true. You are bound.”
Kaelen’s voice was hoarse. “Bound to what?”
The man’s eyes darkened. “Not what. Who.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only Kaelen heard. “The last of the Black Flight. The most feared of dragonkind. If that creature lives through you, the world is already broken.”
Kaelen’s stomach twisted. His mother reached for him, whispering, “It changes nothing. You are my son.”
But her hands shook. And for the first time, Kaelen wondered if she believed her own words.
