Birth of a Mortal God (34 page)
Jessica did not know how, but she felt herself being reshaped, as if she were clay in the hands of an artisan. Then the second voice said, “Soon, we shall be together again, my love. I have so much to show you.”
Igneel entered the
chamber with Raeon in his arms and saw that Lathrion lay next to the carcass of the last cow, picking at it like a crow.
“Master.”
He looked up, fresh blood dripping from his mouth. “That was fast.”
Igneel nodded. “It was as if he helped in the birth,” he said motioning to the boy in his arms. “This child is unnaturally developed and self-aware for a newborn of his species.”
Lathrion laughed. “My dear servant, he is the
first
of his species. What of Jessica?”
“Despite my efforts, she died soon after childbirth.”
“Efforts?”
“Raeon would not let me take him away until I tried,” he said as the boy observed them as if trying to decipher their speech.
“Raeon? I suppose it matters not what he is called,” answered the black dragon before grinning. “Not only have I repaid my life boon, but I have also gained a strong new son. Fortune smiles on me, Igneel.”
“Son?! Master, you mean you’ll—”
“Yes, I shall raise this child as my own. Not that my kind does that sort of thing, but I have never been one for tradition.”
“But what of-” started Igneel when Raeon jumped from his arms, landing hard on the stone floor. He rushed to pick up the boy when Lathrion roared.
“No! He shall not be pampered!”
Raeon stared at the purple flesh of his legs in disgust before dragging himself towards nourishment, the large symbol on his back eerily matching the discolouration of his broken limbs. His audience watched silently as he slowly crawled through the blood of the dead animals to the half-eaten carcase. He grabbed at the exposed ribs and pulled himself closer, sinking his teeth into the juicy red flesh.
Lathrion’s face split into a grin as he watched the infant’s legs heal and muscles define. “I think I am going to like this boy.”
Armand Viljoen was born in 1989 and grew up on stories. When other children were playing tag, he was seeking out tales of fantastical lands and creatures. He graduated from North-West University with a B.A. in language and literature with an emphasis on English and creative writing. He lives abroad as an English teacher and writes whenever he can.
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