Destiny - Book One in The Bomcard Trilogy
Chapter Eight - Dangerous Relations

Zach walked into the large clearing and noticed Leah standing byherself near a small tree. Around her shoulder was a strap attached to a smallwolf-skin sachet. He was not sure what exactly was in the bag, but he would notask; it was none of his business. Honour, Zach's new dragon companion, wassitting under the tree with her and both turned as Zach approached.

‘Hello, Zachary,' thefemale centaur greeted, smiling at him.

He smiled back. ‘Hey.You do not have to call me Zachary. Zach is fine.'

She nodded, her eyesseemingly brightening. ‘Hello, Zach.'

Zach nodded towardsHonour and asked, ‘So, where did the fairies go? I mean, they were here alittle while ago.'

Leah frowned and repliedbefore the dragon could. ‘They went back to Lord Barback's castle. They haveenlisted me and one other to help train you.'

‘Who is the other?' heasked, looking around.

‘That would be I,' amale voice boomed behind him.

Zach turned and noticeda black-haired man walking out of the bushes surrounding them. As he steppedout, Zach noticed his bottom half was like Leah's except that instead of beingblonde, like his hair, his was black. On his back, he saw the centaur had a redsword holder and Zach noticed a bronze hilt sticking out and wondered if thecentaur thought he did not know how to fight.

Staring back at thecentaur, he noticed his face was filled with excitement and anticipation. Thecentaur walked up to Zach, his hand outstretched. Zach, smiling, took thecentaur's hand in his own and shook it.

‘Greetings,' the centaurman spoke kindly. ‘I am FieryTemper. I have been sent here to guide you in yourtask of becoming the dragon's master.'

‘Huh … how?' Zachmumbled. He looked down at FieryTemper's bottom half then back to him. Henoticed FieryTemper's cold look and added, ‘No offence. I mean, you couldprobably teach me new things and some stuff I won't ever want to know and I'llstop talking now.'

‘Please,' FieryTemperspoke coldly. He turned to Leah and smiled. ‘It is good to see you, Leah.' Shenodded and smiled in reply. He turned back to Zach and asked, ‘What knowledgedo you already have?'

‘Huh?'

‘Use your manners, boy,'FieryTemper said, continuing to stare coldly at him.

‘Sorry,' Zach quicklyapologised. ‘What did you mean?'

‘What have you learnedin regards to how you fight?' he replied. ‘Do you know how to use a sword? Handto hand combat? Any mystical powers?'

Zach smiled as hereplied, ‘I know how to use a sword. Best fighter in my class, so I was promotedto guard.' He frowned when he said ‘guard'. ‘That's not good though.'

Leah smiled. ‘It showsyou have promise.'

Zach smiled at her.‘Thanks.'

FieryTemper crossed hisarms and walked over. ‘Have you ever ridden a dragon before?'

Zach shook his head andFieryTemper smiled. ‘Then that's where we start.'

He walked over to Honourand placed his hand on the dragon's head. ‘My friend, I wish to teach Zacharyhere to learn to be able to fly with you. Will you allow me to assist him?'

Honour nodded his head,turning to look at Zach and said, ‘I likehim.'

Zach smiled and replied,‘So do I, but I do not think he likesme.'

FieryTemper turned toZach and asked, ‘Can you please come over here.' His eyes no longer stared athim coldly but were now warm and kind.

Zach walked over,passing Leah and finally reaching Honour. FieryTemper stared at him and smiled,saying, ‘You will need to get on.'

Zach's eyes widened withshock. ‘Me? Okay … but I … ah …'

FieryTemper smiled andLeah walked over towards him. Standing next to Zach, she spoke quietly. ‘Don'tbe afraid. You and Honour have a special connection.'

He turned to face herand asked, ‘What do you mean?'

‘Remember when you firstmet him?' she asked him. ‘When you placed your hand on his body?'

Zach nodded. ‘Yeah, Ifelt some weird feeling inside. Like when you know something really exciting isgoing to happen and you feel so good and eager and just … well, excited. Itwarmed me and made me feel more confident, but I thought that was just thereally hot fire surrounding me.'

‘That's right. Not thefire, I mean.' She shook her head before continuing, ‘He can give you strengthand courage. You need only be with him or hear his voice. Move over to him andget on his back. Trust me, it will be fine.'

He nodded, smiled andwalked over to Honour and shrugged. ‘Nooffence.'

‘Ido not take any offence,' Honour nodded in reply. ‘It is normal to still have fear.'

Honour lowered his body,bending his knees, and Zach placed his hand on the dragon's body and felt the familiarwarm feeling he mentioned before. He grabbed onto the top of Honour's body andpulled himself up, using the dragon's bended knee as support. Sitting on topand smiling, he rubbed Honour's neck.

‘That was easy,' hewhispered.

‘Thatis not my neck. That is my tail.'

Zach frowned as the tailrose above him and Leah laughed as he realised he had hopped on backwards.After swinging his legs around, he managed to position himself correctly andmoved to rest his hands on Honour's neck.

Honour lifted his bodyup and Zach fell forward, grabbing onto his neck. Wrapping his arms around thered shaft, Zach squeezed tightly, afraid of falling off. He was hanging underHonour's neck now, his legs wrapped around for added support.

‘Icannot breathe!' Honour screamed in his head. His golden eyes began to bulge outof his sockets as Zach squeezed harder.

‘Sorry!' Zach yelled inreply. He pulled himself back up and loosened his grip but did not take hisarms away. He looked down at FieryTemper and asked, ‘There has to be an easierway, yeah? I mean, I can't hold on.'

FieryTemper, armscrossed, shook his head as he leaned towards Leah. ‘This is the dragon'smaster?' He looked up at Zach and spoke kindly. ‘Zachary, calm yourself. Itwill come naturally to you and Honour. You need only believe in yourself.'

Leah smiled at him. ‘Webelieve in you. You can do this.'

Zach smiled weakly inreturn and leaned down to Honour. ‘Okay, maybe we should do this like mommybirds?'

‘Likemommy birds? I do not understand,' the dragon replied, tilting his head on anangle to stare at him. On the ground, Leah and FieryTemper exchanged confusedexpressions as Zach nodded and smiled.

‘Yeah, like when motherbirds teach their young to fly. I think they like, throw them out of the nestand they have to fly themselves back up.'

‘Youwant me to throw you in the air and hope you fly?' Honour asked, confused.

‘No, no. It is ametaphor story.'

‘Aboutmother birds who chose to kill their young?'

‘No, about us trying tolearn how to fly.'

‘Iam still confused.'

‘Zach, can I ask whatyou and Honour are discussing?' Leah asked politely. Zach looked over at herand noticed the confused expression on her face.

Honour tilted his largehead down before looking back at Zach with a smile stretching across his faceas he asked him, ‘Shall we warn her aboutthe murderous birds?'

‘Honour, forget thebirds.' He smiled as he patted the dragon's head.

‘Iwas in the moment.'

Zach smiled at Leah andnodded. ‘What I am talking about is let's just do this. It will either work ornot. Fly or fall.' He smiled and winked at Leah, who blushed. ‘It was more toconvince myself to do this. Kind of a bad metaphor.'

‘Iagree, but next time, chose a different metaphor.'

Zach patted Honour'shead, laughing. ‘No problem, buddy.'

Honour nodded his headand asked, ‘Are you ready?'

Zach nodded and lookeddown at the centaurs. ‘Maybe stand back.'

Leah and FieryTempernodded and took a few steps back as Honour began to beat his wings. Zachnoticed immediately the powerful winds that Honour was creating and he began totighten his grip on his neck.

‘Herewe go. Hold on tight, but please refrain from choking me again, master.'

Honour pushed off theground and hovered above it for a few seconds before shooting off into theskies. Zach held on as best he could and for a few moments thought he wouldfall off. As Honour soared higher, he finally realised he would not - he wasthe safest he had ever been.

Honour flew away fromthe forest where they were well hidden. Zach looked down and noticed the tinydots that were the centaurs. As Honour flew through the skies and he gainedmore confidence in not falling off, Zach let go of his hold and held out hishands.

‘Howis it, baby bird?'

‘Ha, ha, ha, I love it!'Zach screamed excitedly.

Honour smiled and asked,‘How much do you trust me?'

‘With my life,' Zachreplied, an excited smile on his face.

‘Then,hold on!'

Honour swerved to hisright, turning on his side. Zach found himself holding on easily, the actionscoming to him naturally. Honour tilted to his other side and finally began tospin in circles. Zach held on, laughing through everything Honour did.

‘Go higher!' Zachcommanded, his voice filled with more excitement and confidence than he couldever remember having.

Honour roared, flewupwards and in moments, Zach found himself in the clouds. He held out his handand felt the soft clouds pass through his fingers. He smiled as Honour began tofly smoothly through them.

‘This is beautiful,'Zach whispered to the dragon.

‘Itis. I have not seen it in years,’ Honour replied, speaking sadlyat memories long forgotten.

‘Why not?' Zach asked,placing his hand on Honour's head.

‘Ihave been in hiding. Without my master, I would not be as strong as I am now. Icould not risk being discovered.'

Zach rubbed the dragon'shead and replied, ‘Now you can soar as high or wherever you wish.'

Honour roared and flewdownwards. As he fell towards the ground, he turned and headed back into theforest. Hovering for a few seconds before attempting to land, Zach noticed Leahand FieryTemper covering their faces from the winds created from Honour'swings.

As they landed, Zachjumped off and patted Honour's head. ‘Thank you, Honour.'

Honour nodded inresponse. ‘It was my pleasure.'

FieryTemper approachedthem, smiling as he spoke, 'You have done well. Good work Zachary.'

Leah, moving up next toher fellow centaur, also smiled at Zach. ‘Very good work, Zach.'

Zach smiled at her andreplied, ‘Thanks. You kind of helped.'

She looked at him inconfusion as she asked, 'How?'

He shrugged at her andreplied, ‘Being you. You believed in me. No one ever has. Until a few days ago,no one did, I mean.'

She nodded at him, asmile creeping across her face as she began to slowly blush. ‘You are welcome.'

‘Ahem,' FieryTemperinterrupted as he cleared his throat. The two jumped and stared at him withfaces filled with guilt, both looking at him as if they were little kids beingcaught doing something bad. He stared at the two disapprovingly as he asked,‘Shall we continue?'

‘Sure,' Zach mumbled,turning to Honour who stared at him and nodded in reply. Turning back toFieryTemper, he smiled and added, ‘Let's continue.'

‘Before we do, we have apresent for you.'

Reaching over his backto the sword holder, FieryTemper pulled out a sword and passed it to Zach. Heturned it over, staring at it in the light. The blade looked nice and sharp,the clean blade shining in the light. He turned it over in his hand and noticedhow light it felt. He looked at the hilt and noticed it was covered in darkwolf-skin, tied continuously with white string across the grip. The bottom ofthe hilt was a nice light bronze colour that shone in the light along with theblade.

Looking at FieryTemper,he smiled and replied, ‘This belonged to my father. I thought it was lost afterhe … How did you replace this?'

FieryTemper smiled inreply. ‘We have our ways. It is our gift to you. Do not lose it.'

Zach nodded, tears inhis eyes. ‘Thank you.'

* * *

Sitting by the camp fire they had lit, Honour was asleep behindthe sitting Zach and Leah. FieryTemper had headed off a few hours ago and hadleft them alone. He had taught Zach how to fire crossbows, though he preferreda sword, and taught him limited hand to hand combat. Leah had decided to remainbehind and wait for the return of the fairies. The next day, Zach would beheading into Stelipse and she would not be able to follow.

Zach held out his stickto the fire, cooking the delicate meat. The fire crackled, sending little flaresinto the sky. Leah, holding out her own food, pulled hers back and began toeat. Zach pulled his out and took a bite. Flinching, he ripped it out of hismouth and turned to her in disgust.

‘What is this?' he askedher in horror.

She looked at him, confused,as she replied, ‘Meat.'

‘I know that, silly,' hesaid, rolling his eyes as he spoke. ‘I mean what type of meat?'

‘Fish, why?'

Zach looked down at itand laid it down on the ground. ‘Hate fish. It makes me sick.'

Leah frowned and lookeddown at the fish he had lowered, speaking softly as she apologised,

‘I am sorry. I had noidea.'

Zach turned to her in aninstant and held out his hands. ‘No, don't get offended. I just … I should nothave said anything. Don't get upset. Look, I'll eat it!' He picked it up andtook another bite. He rubbed his stomach and tried to look like he was enjoyingit. ‘See? Yummy …'

She smiled at him. ‘Youdon't have to eat it.'

‘No, don't be silly,' hesmiled in reply, waving his hand at her. He took another bite and added, ‘Ilike it. What was I talking about?'

‘Seriously, stop if itis making you sick,' she replied, letting out a small laugh.

He turned and spat itout, wiping his mouth. ‘Oh, thank God. I thought I was going to be sick.'

She laughed. ‘Why didyou eat it, then?'

He began to laugh andsmiled at her. ‘So I wouldn't upset you.' She looked at him and he noticed forthe first time her blue eyes that shone in the firelight. It reminded him ofthe ocean and he began to feel lost in them the longer he stared at her. Hecontinued to smile at her and asked, ‘Do you remember when we met?'

She nodded, smiling.‘Yes.'

‘You mentioned somethingabout someone seeing the future. Who is it?' he asked.

She smiled at him. ‘Afriend I have. I do not know her name, only that she dreams of the future. Shespeaks in silly riddles though, quite confusing at times.'

He frowned at her as heasked, ‘How did you know I was Honour's master?'

‘I'm sorry?' shereplied, looking at him, confused.

‘You knew … somehow, youknew. How?'

She smiled sadly inreply, 'The lady told me I would know and when I saw you, I just knew.'

‘But how did you know?'he continued to ask as he stared at her and smiled. ‘I'm just curious, that'sall.'

‘She said I would knowbecause I would love him from first sight,' she said, turning away from him asher face turned bright red.

Zach stared at her andsmiled. ‘Leah, do you love me?' He could not help but begin to laugh.

She stared at himcoldly. ‘How could you laugh?'

He began to wave hishands, still laughing as he spoke. ‘No, no. It's just … well, the moment I sawyou, I fell in love with you.'

She smiled at him andturned back around to face him. ‘I am glad to hear that.'

Zach shook his head andlaughed. ‘Man. What is it with kids these days?'

Leah smiled and noddedbefore she began to frown as she continued, ‘We cannot be together.'

‘Why not?' he asked hersadly.

Leah looked at him withpain filling her eyes and answered, ‘Humans are not allowed to fall in lovewith mystical creatures and we are not allowed to fall in love with humans.'

He paused for a momentbefore he smiled at her. ‘That's it? Kind of stupid reasoning.'

She looked at him inshock as she replied, ‘That is a good reason. It is against the law.'

He laughed and shruggedhis shoulders. ‘I don't care.'

‘Zach …'

‘Leah, it should notmatter. How else do you think merpeople and elves have survived? Answer: bybreeding with humans. Not to mention the witches and wizards.'

She shook her head. ‘Iam a centaur. It is not allowed.'

He frowned for a momentand then smiled at her. ‘Then when this is over, I will become a centaur.'

‘What?' Leah asked him,shocked. ‘What are you talking about?'

‘Well, if you can't bewith me by being human then I will be a centaur,' he answered, continuing tosmile at her. ‘I'm pretty sure the fairies can do it, if not the witches orwarlocks. I mean, I have heard stories of being able to transform creaturesinto humans, so why not the other way around?'

‘Zach, you would give upyour humanity for me?' she asked him, a smile slowly creeping onto her face.

‘To be with you, ifthat's what I have to do, then sure.'

She smiled at him, tearsin her eyes and she said, ‘How? How could we be like this? Feel what we feel?'

‘I don't know,' heshrugged. ‘I guess for some people, love at first sight is real. Or maybe wehave finally both gone crazy.' He smiled at her and added, ‘I prefer the firstanswer.'

She nodded and lookedinto the fire as she spoke. ‘I have heard of stories of people who have fallenin love with someone they just met. I didn't think it was possible, but themoment I saw you,' she turned and faced him, ‘I just knew we were meant foreach other.'

‘I know,' he nodded,smiling warmly at her. ‘The moment I saw you, I kind of thought the same.'

A small noise behindthem made both jump and they turned to notice Honour looking at them. He noddedat both of them before lowering his head.

‘Iam sorry. I did not mean to overhear.'

Zach smiled at him. ‘Itis okay, Honour.'

‘What did he say?' Leahasked, turning from Zach to Honour.

‘He apologised forlistening,' Zach answered as Leah looked away in embarrassment. Zach turnedback to Honour and spoke to him in his mind. ‘Honour? Can you do me a favour?'

As Zach continued tostare at his dragon, Leah realised they were talking privately. Not meaning tointerrupt, she slowly stood and walked over to the other side of the fire. Zachapproached her shortly after and smiled at her.

‘Do you want to seesomething cool?'

* * *

‘This is beautiful,' Leah whispered, turning to face Zach. Shereached out her hand and touched a cloud, feeling it move in between herfingers and watching it drift away. Zach had convinced Honour to take Leah andhim up into the sky. It had taken a little positioning, but they had managedit.

Leah was sitting onHonour's back, Zach in front of her and her hands around his waist, her legsstretched over both the dragon's sides. It was not very comfortable for her,but it was worth it, she thought.

In front of her, thelarge moon shone brightly, engulfing them in its bright light. The stars filledthe skies and twinkled as she stared at them. The white clouds drifted pastthem and they could lean out with their hands and touch them as they passed.She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. The moon bathed them inits bright, warm light and Honour's scales shone brightly in the dark.

‘This is beautiful,'Leah repeated.

Zach turned his head tostare at her. ‘It is, isn't it? Honour brought me up here on our first flight.'

‘You seem at ease withhim now,' she whispered.

‘Yeah, you were right,'he nodded. ‘It just feels natural.'

‘In battle, you two willbe great.' She smiled at him, staring out in the distance as if in a trance. ‘Ican see it now. Honour's strength and your courage combined will be anincredible force.'

‘We will be,' Zachnodded in agreement. ‘I can feel it. I feel different from before.'

‘You seem different,'Leah replied. ‘The same boy I met, yet different at the same time.'

‘I am,' he sighed. ‘It'sgood. I haven't felt this way since … since my family died.'

‘Why is that?'

Turning to face her, hereplied, ‘I feel like I'm with my new family, if that makes sense. I know ofthe dangers ahead, but just right now, I feel at peace. I feel calm and happy. Ihaven't felt that for over a year.'

‘Master,I must rest if you do not mind. I do not wish to disrupt your … whatever youare doing.'

Zach smiled and pattedHonour's head. ‘Take us down.'

* * *

Zach and Leah were sitting once again with Honour now asleepbehind them. The pair sat next to one another, their hands close enough to beable to touch the other, but both still avoided this. Staring into the fire,Zach smiled at himself.

‘This has been a goodday,' he spoke to her, turning to face her.

She let out a smalllaugh, smiled back and nodded. ‘It has been an interesting day.'

‘Can I ask yousomething?' he asked her. She turned to face him, noticing his seriousexpression and determination in his eyes. She nodded and he continued. ‘Do youthink this Lost Son kid can stop Barback?'

‘You mean Lord Barback?'

‘I mean Barback.'

Leah stared at him for amoment, contemplating her thoughts before she answered. She nodded and replied,‘Yes, I do. It has been prophesied he will win.'

Zach shook his head. ‘I'masking you, not prophets. You have met him once before. Can he do this?'

She stared at him andsmiled. ‘Not alone. With you and his companion Elizabeth, he will. He lacks theconfidence to be who we need him to be, yet he seems to thrive on the supportof others. In time yes, I do believe he will stop Lord Barback.'

‘Honour told mesomething interesting the first time I met him,' Zach mumbled, turning to thesleeping dragon as he spoke before turning back to Leah. ‘He mentioned that theLost Son is half elf and half human.'

‘Correct,' Leah noddedin agreement.

‘He also said that therehas never been anyone like him and that he is our future. What did he mean?'Zach asked her, his eyes now filled with curiosity and a little fear.

She frowned as she repliedslowly. ‘In all of the mystical creatures, in all the centuries of being inexistence, there has never been a hybrid. If a mystical creature mates withanother, you have a half chance of being like your father and a half chance ofbeing like your mother.'

‘Do you think it isbecause of his dad being human?' he asked.

‘I do not believe so.There have been stories of creatures and humans mating. You have said soyourself. It has always been humans and elves or humans and merpeople. Theirchildren are born either mermaid or elf or human. The Lost Son is the firstever to be born a half-blood. Somehow, he is different. I do worry about him.'

Zach stared at her,confused. ‘What do you mean?'

‘He never lived inBomcard and never knew his destiny? To place this on one person in such a shorttime …' She stared into his eyes and he noticed the fear in them as shefinished, ‘I just feel that something could happen.'

‘What do you mean?'

She stared deep into hiseyes, leaning in closer and replied, ‘I'm scared of his human side.'

Zach whispered to her,‘Why?'

‘I believe his emotionsmay affect his powers. Elizabeth, in the brief time I spoke to her, mentionedthat when they first met, he killed harpies when he was in danger, which isunderstandable, but when she attacked one of the corpses, he was angry with herand he destroyed it. You humans are more in touch with your emotions than wecreatures are. If his emotions trigger his powers or amplifies them, imaginewhat might happen if he becomes angry or confused.'

‘Confused?'

‘His power is great,'Leah replied. ‘What if he becomes corrupted? What if this proves too much forhim? What if he uses his powers for evil instead of for good?'

He shook his head. ‘Idon't believe so. I believe he will be our savior.' She smiled at him as headded, ‘Besides, I'll be there with him. I'll make sure he stays on the righttrack.'

She smiled and lay downon her back, looking up towards the sky. ‘Zach, you have such a good heart.'After a few minutes of silence, she turned her head and asked him, ‘Zach, whydid you join the guards?'

He turned to face herand she noticed the pain in his face. ‘I lived with my father, mother and oneyear old twin sisters on a farm just outside the outskirts of the castle. Iwould help my father with the harvest and one day he asked me to do it alone.He needed to stay back to do something he would not tell me about. He had sometype of secret project not even my mother knew about.

‘Later that day, I cameback and … there was nothing left. The house was on fire, the stock were dead.I ran everywhere trying to replace anyone, but not even my sisters were spared. I… had to bury my whole family. A few days later, the guards appeared. They toldme I could join them and they will give me what I lost - a family. I joined,but it was all lies.'

He looked up at the skyas he finished his story. ‘I was using them to replace any information on whokilled my family, but … I have never discovered anything.'

‘I am sorry, Zach,' Leahwhispered.

‘Look!' he saidexcitedly. Pointing up, they both watched two shooting stars fly past them inthe sky. He turned his head to face her. ‘Make a wish.'

She laughed and said,‘You too. There are two stars.' They both stared at the stars and smiled. Sheturned to him and spoke sadly, ‘Tomorrow, be careful in Stelipse.'

‘I wish you could come,'he mumbled in reply.

‘You know I can't.'

He smiled. ‘You'll bethere. Maybe not in person but … you will be there. With me, as corny as thatsounds,' he laughed, rolling his eyes.

She leaned over to hersachet and pulled out a small item. Handing it to him, he realised it was alittle bracelet. It was made of a green type of vine, looping though two othervines and making a complete circle. Attached to the joined rings were four white,pale stones. As he turned them over, he noticed strange markings on them.

Looking up as she placedit on his hand, he asked her, ‘What is this? It's beautiful.'

She smiled. ‘I made it.Take it with you. Then I'll be with you, like you said.'

Zach smiled, nodding andfalling back down. Leah lay down in his stretched out arm and he pulled hercloser. Staring up at the sky, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.