“What is that?” Seneca asked. She moved in close to get a better view.
“It is platinum blood. It is blood of the dragon.” Rileau replaced the lid and returned the jar to the shelf.
“I always thought platinum was silver. Red is my favorite color, so I’d love some platinum-red earrings,” Shayna said. She smiled and was impressed with Rileau’s explanation.
“You keep your blood in jars?” Conner asked. He leaned in to get a better view.
“Might you have a better suggestion for storage?” Rileau asked. Conner decided a head shake was a good enough reply.
“Why do you need to keep your blood in storage?” asked Seneca. She was mesmerized by Rileau and was pleased that he was revealing so much. She considered it their first lesson.
“Many ages ago, during a dark time in the Otherworld, our kind was taught by the elder druid the methods to harness our platinum blood,” said Rileau.
“Was it Garbhan?” asked Seneca. “We met him before he passed away, and he only told us about the Dominion of Four stuff.”
“No, it was not Garbhan, although he was a superior elder. This was long before his time and that of the elder before him. Would you like me to continue?”
“Yes!” Conner and Shayna said, and their voices echoed off the walls. Seneca nodded obediently.
“The elder druid that I speak of uncovered properties in the blood that would enhance a dragon’s strength during battle,” said Rileau. “He preserved the blood with anointed power derived from the purest noir kristilum.”
“What’s that?” asked Conner.
“Noir kristilum in the purest form comes from the dander of an arion,” replied Rileau.
“My cat allergies feel like they’re kicking in just from the mention of dander,” said Shayna. “I hate hives. My skin just gets all—oops. Sorry. I know. Shut up, Shayna.” She smirked as she made eye contact with Seneca. She shook her head to clear the image of inflamed, itchy skin. “Sorry. Please continue, Rileau.”
“Once it is ingested, a dragon’s abilities are unmatched,” said Rileau.
“It doesn’t seem wise to give one being so much power,” said Jake. “It would be an unfair advantage. It’s sort of like cheating.”
“Yeah, I have to agree with Jake. It sounds like cheating to me too,” said Conner. “The dragons wouldn’t get away with that if they were playing sports in our realm.”
“I assure you that what we faced in the dark times was not sport,” Rileau replied. “It is only used when required. Abuse is not tolerated.”
“It just sounds like it does the same thing that steroids and other enhancements claim to do,” said Jake. “The stuff is created all the time to get athletes to beat their opponents and—ouch! What the—” Jake grabbed his arm away from Seneca’s grasp. She had pinched his skin just above his elbow. “Why did you do that?” asked Jake.
“Just let him finish, and stop interrupting!” said Seneca.
“Fine. Just lay off the pinching—sheesh,” he said with an exaggerated sound of angst.
Seneca gave him a raise of an eyebrow to indicate she meant business and returned her attention to Rileau. She knew that whatever their mentor had to say would probably explain the exact use and purpose of the platinum blood. Rileau smiled slightly and gave a nod toward Seneca. She could feel her cheeks flush. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly to regain her composure.
Jake rubbed his arm and decided it wasn’t a good idea to continue his probing. He’d hold his comments and mounting concerns a bit longer. He rubbed the back of his neck and whisked away beads of sweat. He felt a chill wash over him. He zipped his hoodie and shoved his hands into his pockets.
“Tell us more about the platinum blood, please,” Shayna said. She smiled and flipped her wavy dark hair behind her back as she tucked one side behind her ear.
“The platinum blood is superior to what may have been created by mortals. It cannot be duplicated, as it has properties that are only found within dragons and from a realm that is out of reach,” said Rileau. “It is harvested to maintain a dragon’s ability to manifest fire for extended periods of time. It is kept in reserve for battle.” He directed his attention solely at Jake in anticipation of a rebuttal.
“And that’s it? You use it, and—poof—there’s fire?” Jake asked. “Your enemy is extinguished, and the fight is over?” He knew he sounded childish, but he was unable to control his reactions. Jake was adamant about maintaining his belief that Rileau couldn’t be trusted. He no longer felt any chill at all. Instead, he was overheating and boiling inside. He wondered how he could shift to such extremes in a matter of seconds.
“Not exactly, Jake. Once placed in my mouth, it acts as a catalyst. When combined with hydrogen, it combusts, thus producing a more potent fire. Also, as a point of clarification, a dragon does not breathe fire. We expel it,” Rileau sneered.
“I’m curious. You mentioned an elder druid, the one who showed dragons how to harvest their blood. Why did he think it was necessary?” asked Seneca.
“As I mentioned, the Otherworld went through dark times. Much has changed in how we now live and what type of magic we are allowed to use,” said Rileau. “At one time, there were those who wanted to have power over all beings. The desire to harness the source of magic in its purest form was the objective.”
“My guess is protecting this magic source was the mission for the elder druid,” said Jake.
“Yes, Jake,” replied Rileau. “The elder druid knew he could not allow corrupt forces to disrupt the balance of our realm. To allow anyone this level of power would potentially destroy our entire existence. This was the essence of the conflict.”
“Blocking the bad guys from getting to the source seems like the right move. But doesn’t that just mean that someone else has to be in charge of it?” asked Jake. “Who’s to say that person wouldn’t get sucked into a power trip too?”
“It is prudent to never allow an individual such an offering, as there is always a risk of corruption. As a result, safeguards were put in place, and the pure source is no longer accessible to those within the Otherworld,” Rileau said. “The temptation was removed to establish a new balance.”
“There are always the greedy, power-hungry ones who ruin everything,” said Conner.
“So that was the reason for war?” asked Seneca.
“A war indeed. It caused much destruction and disruption to our Otherworld,” said Rileau. “Those who were neutral in such matters were forced to choose sides. Dragons, arions, and elves were most sought as allies to the opposing sides.”
“We haven’t met any elves yet,” said Shayna. “Are they good guys or bad ones?”
“Good and bad are relative terms,” replied Rileau. “Things cannot be divvied up so simply.”
“What you’re saying is that dragons can be on Brigara’s side?” asked Jake.
“We all have free will to choose our alliances,” said Rileau. “Since the beginning of time, dragons have never strayed from the light of righteousness.”
“But it’s possible,” Jake replied.
“All things are possible, Jake. As you know, even you may become corrupt or have your integrity questioned,” said Rileau. “Aye, while remote, it is quite possible.” He bowed to Jake. Seneca stepped in front of Jake to end the showdown.
“Not again!” Conner rubbed his head in disbelief.
“Tell us more about the elder druid. I’m curious about him or her,” said Seneca. She knew it was a perfect time to change the subject. She stomped on Jake’s toe. “Cut it out!” she grumbled through tight lips.
Jake fought back a yelp. He allowed his silence to be his response.
“His name was Merlin, and he was a druid like no other before or after,” Rileau said.
“Merlin? Like the Merlin?” Conner asked. “Merlin the mighty wizard from King
Arthur’s Round Table kind of Merlin?” His jaw hung down with his mouth gaped wide open.
“I don’t know of this Merlin you speak of,” said Rileau. “Merlin the elder druid kept the balance of harmony among those in the Otherworld.”
“Can druids also be wizards?” asked Shayna.
“I have never encountered wizards. Are they a type of mortal?” asked Rileau.
“Not quite,” Seneca said. “There are a lot of stories about the wizard Merlin, mostly about him doing magic and protecting King Arthur in a place called Camelot.”
“They go through a huge battle, and it’s a classic clash of good versus evil right on the battlefield. With dragons and magic,” said Conner. “Well, not like your kind of dragon. You know, the big kind, with wings and horns and—”
“Maybe they’re just stories that were made up,” said Seneca. She wanted to cut Conner off before he continued rambling.
“Yeah, good movies and books, though—on King Arthur and Merlin, I mean,” said Conner.
“In the mortal realm, the truth has a tendency to become legend when astounding acts cannot be explained rationally,” said Rileau. “Perhaps this Merlin that you speak of did exist, and the stories are simply flawed.”
“Great coincidence, though,” said Jake. “The Merlin we know about had a thing for dragons.”
“Perhaps there are similarities. Merlin the elder druid did have a fondness for our kind, as he did for all elementals,” said Rileau. “He was a true believer that we are all connected. We arise from the same light and source of all life’s beginning. Maybe they are one and the same.”
“When he showed dragons how to use their own blood, did it end the war?” Conner asked.
“It changed the course of the conflict. The dark forces were driven into hiding by the dragons. The balance of power was restored,” Rileau said. “This was not without consequence. The Otherworld was changed forever.”
“Changed in a good way?” asked Seneca.
“Change is what you make of it. There are those who adapt and evolve, while others reject and rebel,” said Rileau. “My existence began after the change. I only know what we are now, and I know of no other way.”
“I bet Brigara is one of those who can’t stand change,” said Conner. He felt a chill run down his spine and shook in response.
“You said something about consequences. What happened?” asked Jake.
“It is a story for another time. Its relevance will be revealed much later. I request your patience,” said Rileau.
“Sounds like more avoidance to me,” griped Jake.
Rileau did not respond. For him, the topic was closed. Jake knew it was useless to push further, since he believed Rileau wouldn’t reveal more.
“The platinum blood sounds really powerful if it changed the outcome of the war,” said Seneca. She wanted to redirect the focus back to the mysterious element in the jars. “Did you use that before you came to help us?”
“Yes, as it was necessary,” replied Rileau.
“I didn’t see you expel, cough, or spit any fire on the murkgoblins,” said Jake. “How does it work anyway?”
“It increases my physical strength, enabling me to withstand attacks and increase my stamina,” said Rileau. “As for your question, Jake, I have the ability to burn my enemy internally if I so choose. It is not always an external discharge.”
“Like a microwave—cooked from the inside. Ew!” Shayna shrieked. “Uh, what I meant to say is it sounds totally gross but also totally cool. At least I think it’s cool.” She vacillated on her opinion and wasn’t sure how unsettling it actually was.
“Shouldn’t you catch on fire? Your skin or your insides, I mean. You know, from the fire?” Conner asked. He was fascinated by Rileau’s explanation.
“Exactly. That’s the point I was trying to make. Explain that one!” Jake shouted. He wiped sweat from his forehead as he shifted his weight and swayed back and forth.
Shayna and Seneca exchanged a look of embarrassment at Jake’s behavior. Shayna thought he appeared to be on the verge of passing out.
“It is quite simple—my skin is impervious to fire,” snapped Rileau. “It would be like you suffering injury from your own saliva. I release smoke from my nostrils, as this cools my core after expelling flames of any magnitude.”
“How can you make someone burn in the inside?” asked Jake.
“How does Shayna create a sword? How do you fly? I could go on, Jake.” Rileau allowed his words to hang in the air without continuing. His glare zeroed in on Jake.
“Sounds good to me. What about you, Jake?” asked Conner.
Rileau locked eyes with Jake. A wisp of smoke escaped from the dragon’s right nostril and quickly dissipated into the air. He was growing impatient and snapped his tail hard against the floor. Seneca felt the situation was sure to continue escalating. She slid next to Jake.
“Well, I think that about covers all we need to know. Right, Jake?” asked Seneca. She nudged him hard in the ribcage. He jerked in reaction but kept his eyes on Rileau.
“Great—a staring contest,” said Shayna in a monotone.
“Come on, Jake. Let’s move on. Enough already,” said Seneca. Her plea was more of a whine than a forceful demand. She was losing her patience, as were Conner and Shayna.
Jake refused to acknowledge them. His mind was racing to find something—anything—that would discredit the dragon. He felt ill. Perhaps the injuries he’d sustained had affected his emotions or, worse, his judgment. There was something definitely wrong, but he couldn’t dwell on it. He concentrated on coming up with more questions.
“Is she correct, Jake?” Rileau asked. “Can we move on, or do you need to know about how my somatic and autonomic nervous systems function in parallel to produce the accelerant for controlling the speed, distance, and direction the flames are dispersed?”
“Aha! You admit it. You do shoot out fire!” Jake shouted. His body was rigid and drenched in sweat. He was confused; he struggled against the pull to be rational and levelheaded.
“You are accurate. As with you, there are a multitude of abilities I possess. I do expel flames when I so choose. It’s an advantage to having a third lung that ignites the flame,” said Rileau. “Do you desire a personal demonstration?” He stepped forward to within inches of Jake.
Rileau’s sarcasm was undeniable. Seneca reached up and gave Jake a gentle rub on the shoulder. She massaged deep into the tissue between his shoulder blades. She stood on her toes and eased her hands up to his shoulders. She pressed her thumbs and index fingers into the muscles across his back. She had no idea why she felt compelled to massage him, but she continued. Jake made no attempt to remove her hands. Her touch had a calming effect. He felt the heat he was experiencing diminish. The sensation of a cool breeze washed over him. He inhaled deeply. He thought he saw smoke coming from his mouth and drifting into the air. It disappeared from sight before he got a better glimpse. He waved his hands through the air, trying to capture it.
Seneca assumed he was shooing her away. She abruptly stopped her massage and let her arms drop. Jake wanted to ask her to continue but resisted.
“Is this now a closed topic?” Rileau asked. His voice was controlled. He backed away from Jake.
It made Seneca uncomfortable to see that Jake was not relenting and was intent on holding his ground. She also observed that Rileau’s stature appeared to expand each second Jake delayed in responding. She feared the stalemate would not end well. “Jake, are you going to answer him?” Seneca asked. She nudged his shoulder.
“I am so not in the mood to smell you getting barbecued,” said Shayna. She was concerned the situation was escalating beyond control.
“Huh? What do you mean?” Jake replied.
His focus was not on the conversation; it was on a noticeable drop in his body temperature. He felt a chil
l and shivered. His body relaxed as the tension he had been experiencing dissolved. He was calm.
“What I mean is that we’re all perfectly satisfied. No need for any more questions—right, Jake?” said Seneca. She cleared her throat and pulled down hard on his shirttail. “Right?” she repeated.
“Sure, yeah—whatever,” he said.
He didn’t have a clue what he was agreeing to, but he sensed it was the right thing to do. Jake knew she wasn’t going to let up until he conceded. He shifted his focus to Seneca. He looked into her eyes for only a second, but it was just long enough for her to catch a glimpse of the pain in his eyes. He knew she was reading him, and he turned away. She recognized the signs of jealousy but didn’t understand why Jake was feeling insecure. It was unlike him. He brushed her aside and folded his arms across his chest. It wasn’t jealousy, she surmised. There was something else driving him. She wished she knew what it was, but she decided not to intrude into his thoughts. After all, she would have wanted the same consideration if the roles had been reversed.
“Well then, it’s settled!” Shayna snapped. “Let’s move on.” Her voice was cheerier than the situation called for, and she knew it. She had no idea if Rileau had a short temper or not, but she wasn’t interested in testing any theories.
“Now that we’ve had our lesson on platinum blood, what’s next on the syllabus?” asked Seneca. She wanted to allow Jake additional time to simmer down, but she was also anxious to learn more.
“Actually, there’s one more element I need to explain about the platinum blood,” said Rileau. “It has medicinal components. There is no need to discuss this in depth, but know that the rage Jake is experiencing is due to his exposure. It should resolve soon.”
“Excuse me? Exposure?” said Shayna. “He’s been exposed to something?”
“Are you saying he has a disease now?” said Conner.
“I don’t think that’s what he means,” said Jake. “Is that why I recovered so quickly from the murkgoblins’ attack? You treated me with your platinum blood?”
“That is correct. Your injuries were mostly superficial, but there were severe internal issues,” said Rileau. “Your ability to recover is admirable. You must be in top form for what you are about to face.”