Lightbringer - Prologue, pg. 4

Somehow, the next day came, and I awoke on a pebbly beach. The other dragons were in a culvert in a cliff a short distance away from me, where they had built up a fire to warm themselves up. Three of the infants ran over to me, told me to get up, wake up, come on, get in the cave, there’s people nearby. I quite groggily stumbled into the cave and collapsed before the fire, shivering uncontrollably. All the energy that I had felt the day before was barred to me, inaccessible. I was lying there for what seemed like hours before I finally realized that there was a body on top of me, warming me: it was Syrea, and I could feel her concerned heart beating against my back. My shivering subsided, my strength returned, and, pretty soon, so did my hunger.

I sat up, then turned to Syrea, “Where have we gotten to?”

“Torkus scouted about early this morning. We've made it. We've made it to England.”

At this moment, the feeling returned. A premonition? A desire? A warning? I wasn't sure. I wanted to give my heart to her then and there, owing to the fact that she saved me twice within the past 24 hours. But the thought stayed in the background of my mind, as if part of me was... No, it wasn't myself telling me. It was a voice, clear as the morning fog, whispering softly into my core: “Yes, but not now.”

Somehow, I never questioned the voice, its words, or its source. I accepted it as what should be. I then found myself agreeing with it, explaining to some part of me that we had to get to London, that it was part of my father's plan. We had to reach the Parliament building and hide out near there until the adults arrived.

Hopefully, they would reach us quickly. My thoughts turned to them, and I could not fathom how they would be able to sneak past the coastline wall of iron and hatred without being detected. Or if they were detected... how many would perish so the rest would blow through. Or if they all perished.

Again, the voice within calmed my heart, dismissing those thoughts with, “All will work in your favor. You have not said goodbye to them.” Once again, I took blind comfort in the message I received, realizing that the voice was some sort of ally, a companion to guide us while the leader of our tribe, my Patra, was not here with us. Then I realized that the voice led him, too.

The voice belongs to...

Suddenly, I realized whose voice it was. A Lightbringer has the power to discern truths, even without knowing them. They are obligated - no, forced - to end a statement with the truth once it has begun. Impossible to lie, even accidentally.

I then came to myself, realizing that the other dragons were covering their eyes, and hissing for me to “turn down the lights”. The cave was much brighter than before, with a light source reflecting off the rocks like glass. I looked down at my paws and saw my body was indeed luminescent, shining with the intensity of a midday sun.

All I had power to say was, “Sorry... Just had an epiphany.” I took me a few moments to dim down the power as I calmed my mind and silently thanked the heavens for the revelation.